General Music Discussion Thread (a.k.a. indie lovefest)

[Claunchy]

I originally created this thread to share some of my favorite albums that I've never seen talked about on 2+2 (at least not in any great length). I titled the thread the way I did because I didn't want to limit the discussion to just these albums, and I figured EDGD needed a more general music-discussion thread.

I have 5 or 6 albums specifically in mind for this thread, but I'm going to post them one at a time (I promise I won't forget/lose momentum). I'll probably put another one up tonight after the game if I'm not too drunk and tired.


So feel free to comment on my stuff, share some of your favorite albums/bands, whatever. Also, I'm not much of a writer, and I've never formally reviewed an album in my life, so bear with me.



Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7108/magnoliaelectriccosongsai4.jpg

Songs: Ohia is a one-man singer/songwriter from Cleveland. Most of his stuff is really low-key/slow/somber, but this album is a little different. It's not exactly upbeat, but there's so much different instrumentation going on here that it's a lot more accessible for people who can't just listen to an hour of guitar & vocals. Also, this album is far from being a one-man project, since Molina brought in several different musicians and even a couple guest vocalists on two of the tracks.

What I really love about this album is how it doesn't sound anything like an "indie-rock" album. His stuff is more reminiscent of Springsteen's Nebraska than anything recorded in the last ten years. I had this playing in my car with my 50-year-old dad, and he was like "Who is this? This is really good."

Highlights for me include Just Be Simple, Almost Was Good Enough, and Hold On Magnolia.

[guids]

Im glad the animator from Monty Python's Flying Circus is still around.

[Claunchy]

The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1856/b00002ddrc02aa240sclzzzya2.jpg

This is easily one of my favorite five albums of the last ten years, and in strong contention for #1. If you were listening to indie-rock in the late '90s, you almost certainly heard (of) these guys, but I'm sure there are quite a few that are either totally unfamiliar or just haven't taken the time to get into them. To those people I say: GET THIS ALBUM.

Musically, this album is very jagged and angular, yet makes me want to get up and dance (then I remember how white and uncoordinated I am, and reconsider). I've listened to quite a few albums that incorporated angular rhythms and syncopated time signatures (e.g., Slint, June of '44) and even more that incorporate funky poppy riffs, but I think this is the only band that manages to do both at the same time. This album starts with a high level of energy and actually manages to maintain it throughout the album. Aside from The Jitters, which is kind of a faux-Radiohead throwaway track, each and every song on this album is remarkable and different, and if you listen to the album repeatedly, will all get stuck in your head at one point or another.

Lyrically, The Plan is equally remarkable. In a time where the emo-indie scene's lyrics consisted almost exclusively of whiny, introspective, extended metaphors (I guess that's pretty much any time, isn't it), Travis Morrison manages to explore similar feelings with lyrics that are actually original and accessible.

I absolutely love this line:
There are folks that say to have a soul you’ve got to suffer
Well lately I’ve had my RDA of that
And call it fascist but I know that someday happy
Will be all that matters

Also, anyone who ever had the opportunity to see these guys live know that they put on an awesome show.

LINK TO ENTIRE ALBUM FOR FREE (http://www.dismembermentplan.com/plan_audio/real/emergency.ram). This is from their website BTW, so it's all legal and stuff.

[cobrakai111]

Great call on Dismemberment Plan, as I mentioned in the Of Montreal thread E6 bands are the shizzle.

I'm on a big ambient kick lately so I will throw out a few names: Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Rios, Bell Orchestre (Arcade Fire sister band), and my favorite:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre400/e404/e40450msg7m.jpg
Godspeed You Black Emperor. Amazing orchestral rock that gives me the chills everytime I listen to it. Moya (http://youtube.com/watch?v=7sPHMgSmPiA)

[DrunkHamster]

cobrakai, check out this will destroy you. They sound a lot like explosions in the sky, and their album was probably one of the best of 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXmWUAXMYQ

[Spellmen]

Tokyo Police Club (http://www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub)

Just got introduced to these guys, but they are really good. It's really catchy and is similar to some of the UK indie stuff. Their songs and the CD overall is short, but it has a little bit of a Go Team! feel to it that I like

[KJS]

[ QUOTE ]
Great call on Dismemberment Plan, as I mentioned in the Of Montreal thread E6 bands are the shizzle.

I'm on a big ambient kick lately so I will throw out a few names: Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Rios, Bell Orchestre (Arcade Fire sister band), and my favorite:

Godspeed You Black Emperor. Amazing orchestral rock that gives me the chills everytime I listen to it. Moya (http://youtube.com/watch?v=7sPHMgSmPiA)

[/ QUOTE ]

Throw some Dirty Three on top of that. Start with Horse Stories and move forward chronoligically. The stuff before Horse Stories is also excellent but less ambient.

KJS

[CallMeIshmael]

Dismemberment Plan is easily one of my favourite recent bands. However, for some reason or another, I have always found Change to be a bit better than Emergency and I. Though, both are very very good.

The back to back of You are Invited and Gyroscope is the albums highlight, imo.

[El Diablo]

All,

If you have posted or post album/band/music review threads of this genre, I suggest posting links to them here.

[KingMedicine]

[ QUOTE ]
Dismemberment Plan is easily one of my favourite recent bands.

[/ QUOTE ]

D-plan fans might remember an awesome band that they used to tour with a lot called Juno. The Juno singer (arlee carstens) now is a part of a project called Ghost Wars that you can find on myspace i believe.
A great Juno song to check out is called January Arms.

[thatpfunk]

all,
i think it would be great if we started using hype.non-standard.net (http://hype.non-standard.net/) while doing music threads. they have a huge database of streaming music (esp "indie" stuff) and i think it could really help spur discussion and an easy way for everyone to immediately sample the music.

good uses could be comparisons to other artists, top tracks, etc.

a hypothetical example from the recent of montreal thread:
i hear early punk rock roots ala iggy pop on this track She's a Rejector (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/234875) or hear them pay homage to Bowie in this cover: Moonage Daydream (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/240239).

it is an easy site to use and i hope everyone begins to take advantage of it in this forum.

[Claunchy]

pfunk: Awesome suggestion. I was not aware of that site. I will try to incorporate that into subsequent reviews.

cobra: I friggin' love Explosions in the Sky. I'm not as high on Sigur Ros as most people I know, but they are definitely pretty cool. I need to check out Godspeed you Black Emperor. I know I've heard them before, but I'm not super familiar with them.

[asofel]

Kenna - New Sacred Cow

http://hype.non-standard.net/search/kenna/1/

I can't describe him fully now, but the beats are money, the songs and vocals are pretty cool and unique...definitely worth a listen if you've never heard of him...

[Earl Sleek]

Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[Ngugi]

Marah - Kids In Philly (http://archive.salon.com/ent/music/review/2000/05/01/marah/index.html)

Fabulous story-telling and foot-stomping rock'n roll.

http://www.altnet.com/partners/Artemis/333164_mar_kids_06_01.jpg

[nyc999]

[ QUOTE ]

The Fratellis - Costello Music


[/ QUOTE ]

I bought their album yesterday after hearing them featured in the latest iTunes commercial (http://www.apple.com/itunes/ads/partyanimated/) .

[Earl Sleek]

iPods should come with a health warning if they are causing people to convulse like that.

[Event Duality]

Earl, with all your love of British bands, I wonder if you are familiar with
Belle and Sebastian (http://http://hype.non-standard.net/search/belle%20and%20sebastian/1/)
The Arctic Monkeys (http://http://hype.non-standard.net/search/arctic%20monkeys/1/) or
The Libertines (http://http://hype.non-standard.net/search/The%20Libertines/1/)

If not, I highly suggest them, although the Libertines are no more...

[Hoopster81]

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Some Loud Thunder" (new album, seems pretty good)

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton (Metric lead singer) -
"Knives Don't Have Your Back"


Older stuff that I recently discovered:

Metric - "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?" and "Live It Out"

Autolux - "Future Perfect" (think My Bloody Valentine)

[cbloom]

If you like Songs Ohia you probably like :

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy aka Will Oldham ; sort of folky but raw, very poetic
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/bonnie+prince+billy

(he also has a collaboration album with Jason Molina)

Of course everyone these days knows Sufjan; choral/traditional multilayered composer
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/sufjan+stevens

I'm a big fan of My Morning Jacket; dreamy/ecstatic sound-wall rock
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/my+morning+jacket

I love the music of Beirut but I think his voice sucks which ruins it; similar to Sufjan's multi-layered compositions but with more of a sea-shanty/world-music tradition:
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/beirut

but I'm also getting old and realize I don't have the energy to find new bands like I used to.

ps. The Hype Machine is awesome, how did I not know about that before!?

[Earl Sleek]

ED,

It is hard to be unaware of The Libertines since Pete Doherty is rarely out of the media spotlight for his repeated arrests and relationship with Kate Moss. I am a big fan (of the band, not of Doherty), "The Libertines" is one of my favourite albums. It's really a shame they never followed it up. I am not a fan of Doherty's more recent work with Babyshambles however.

The Arctic Monkeys too are hard to miss. They were hailed as the best thing since Oasis when they released Whatever People Say..., which I think was a massive overestimation, but the album certainly stands with Costello Music as one of the best of the year. Personally I haven't really gotten into their music like I have with the other bands mentioned, but I will be interested to see where they go with their second album, which is due for release in April here.

I had never really listened to Belle and Sebastian before you mentioned them but I've been listening for the last half hour and I'm really liking what I'm hearing. I'm going to get a couple of their albums, do you have any recommendations?

[Claunchy]

cbloom: Palace/Will Oldham/Bonnie "Prince" Billy is definitely one of my favorite artists. Will Johnson (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/will%20johnson/1/)(of Centro-Matic) is another artist with a similar vibe going on. Absolutely phenomenal voice.

[private joker]

[ QUOTE ]


I had never really listened to Belle and Sebastian before you mentioned them but I've been listening for the last half hour and I'm really liking what I'm hearing. I'm going to get a couple of their albums, do you have any recommendations?

[/ QUOTE ]

B&S are one of my top 5 bands of all time, and all of their albums (except their one piece of crap, Dear Catastrophe Waitress) are either very good or excellent. But I suggest starting with Tigermilk and The Boy With the Arab Strap for two of their best earlier albums.

That will give you a feel for where they started. If You're Feeling Sinister is also great, and came out between those two records.

But some of their best songs came from singles that weren't on any LPs: in fact, 3 of their finest songs ever are "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song," "I'm Waking Up To Us" and "Legal Man." Those are arguably their best tracks to date.

After that, you might skip right to their most recent album, The Life Pursuit. It's damn good. If you're still into them, you can pick up everything else.

EDIT:

Legal Man promo video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=t_at7lEGpjg)

"Another Sunny Day" live (http://youtube.com/watch?v=oeKI6NRUxxY)

[amplify]

At first I thought Destroyer's Rubies was some kind of tragically unrealized masterpiece, a madman groping through the bars of his cage at the thronging crowd, some Lou Reed burnout crazy & fitful letting the cigarettes burn his fingers, disordered personalities vying for a voice, a dismembered cortex pulsating on the floor. Now, I'm not sure what it is, but it's damn good.

[JaBlue]

One of the bands that I was recently introduced to and love is Akron/Family. They came out with a new album called Meek Warrior but I haven't heard it. The album I love is self-titled. Akron/Family: Akron/Family

http://www.younggodrecords.com/uploads/images_products_large/37.jpg

These guys are folksy and creative musically and lyrically. Dunno how else to describe them so I'll link my favorite songs using pfunks hype machine thing:

I'll Be on the Water (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/akron%20water/1/)

Running, Returning (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/214313)

Shoes (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/akron%20shoes/1/)

[BWebb]

Well I've pumped this album a few different times on the board, might as well do it again.

The Format-Dog Problems
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000FVBLGQ.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I'm not a music expert, so I can't give you any in depth analysis of the album. I can tell you that I loved this album since I first got it and it is still in regular rotation with me. Their most popular single was The Compromise (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/228009) which got pretty regular play on Sirius Alt Nation. I like pretty much every track on the album and I can't really pick a favorite, but some highlights are Time Bomb (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/229247) and She Doesn't Get It (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/214037) .

[Shakes]

The new Explosions in the Sky album, "All of a Sudden I Miss Everybody" (or something like that), is quite good. They're the band that did the Friday Night Lights movie soundtrack, and their music is in just about every episode of the TV show.

[cobrakai111]

Out of curiousity I'd be interested to know what people's sources are to find music out there. I have a buddy in the industry that tips me off, my big blog mainstays are Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum. Anyone else have any good recommendations for souces.

One more album that has been burning up my ipod lately which I'm sure most of you PAvement fans are familiar with:
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd400/d429/d4293106g00.jpg
I'm not a huge fan of pitchfork but this review (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21715) really nailed it giving the album a 9.9.

Last year David Berman finally toured with this band for the first time ever, perhaps the best and most endearing live show I have ever attended.

[Claunchy]

Shakes: OMG HTF DID I NOT REALIZE THAT. I watch that show every week. I guess I'm too busy looking at Minka Kelly (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1181/fridminkkellyim0.jpg) to notice.

cobra: Well, back in the late 90's/early oughts I was kind of a 'scene' kid. Didn't ever dress the part too much or anything, but I went to a ton of shows and hung out with so many emo kids that I was just exposed to a ton of stuff.

Nowadays, I usually just surf Metacritic and see what got decent reviews and go from there.

[Claunchy]

Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1629/6935bm9.jpg

Around last fall, one of my friends told me about this album over instant message, and I was immediately skeptical. "Final Fantasy? WTF is this some lame orchestral video game music?" I was pleasantly surprised.

This is a solo project consisting solely of Owen Pallett (of Arcade Fire and some other stuff). It actually is pretty orchestral, as there are no standard guitar/bass/drums songs on this album. All I can say is that this album is phenomenal. It was one of the best (overlooked) albums of last year IMO.

There are some tracks from the album available here (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/final%20fantasy/1/), but I think it's a pretty big disservice to listen to this album piecemeal (I think that about most good albums FWIW).

[cbloom]

[ QUOTE ]
Out of curiousity I'd be interested to know what people's sources are to find music out there. I have a buddy in the industry that tips me off, my big blog mainstays are Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum. Anyone else have any good recommendations for sources.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like 3hive

http://www.3hive.com/
3hive - sharing the sharing

Also listen to lots of KEXP streaming

http://www.kexp.org/home.asp?noflash=true
KEXP 90.3 FM - where the music matters

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
I had never really listened to Belle and Sebastian before you mentioned them but I've been listening for the last half hour and I'm really liking what I'm hearing. I'm going to get a couple of their albums, do you have any recommendations?

[/ QUOTE ]
If You're Feeling Sinister is one of the best albums of the last 15 years.

[Event Duality]

Nath, have you heard the live version on iTunes? It's amazing; IYFS is definitely one of their better albums. Unlike Joker, however, I happen to find Dear Catastrophe Waitress to be pretty good as well.

And Claunchy, I am glad you brought up Final Fantasy. That album is best heard start to finish.

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
Nath, have you heard the live version on iTunes? It's amazing; IYFS is definitely one of their better albums. Unlike Joker, however, I happen to find Dear Catastrophe Waitress to be pretty good as well.

And Claunchy, I am glad you brought up Final Fantasy. That album is best heard start to finish.

[/ QUOTE ]
I haven't. Dear Catastrophe Waitress is pretty good, but not as good as IYFS. I actually like the Books EP a lot too "Your Cover's Blown" is one of my favorite B&S songs.

On another note, I've been making a lot of mix CDs for people lately. Anyone interested in hearing them or in the kind of stuff I listen to, or what I try to put together for a certain type of person, let me know. I've got kind of a wide variety of tastes-- I have a lot of stuff rooted in the 60s, and the guitar-pop bands of the 70s and 80s, just to name a few (from Big Star to the Soft Boys to early R.E.M. and so on and so forth).

[Event Duality]

I would be interested in hearing some of the stuff you like; I also have a pretty wide variety of music I can listen to. Oh, and before I forget, have you ever listened to the "Storytelling" soundtrack that B&S recorded? It is for a movie of the same name, and I must say, the movie was pretty interesting, too.

If you haven't heard it, I suggest you try it out. It is more instrumentalish than their other records, and clocks in at just over a half hour in length. Very chill.

[nath]

Hmm... I could list bands or artists, or I could just post a few of the mixes I've made for people recently. Whatever floats your boat / is most appropriate for this thread.

[Slow Play Ray]

I recommend these guys all the time because they're the only indie band I listen to that nobody has heard of. Maybe this thread will get them some love.

www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub (http://www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub)

www.rooftopsuicideclub.com (http://www.rooftopsuicideclub.com) used to work too, not sure why it's not now...

more tunes at http://www.rhapsody.com/rooftopsuicideclub

Anyway, really catchy stuff - very melodic and lots of sweet harmonies. Check it out.

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
I recommend these guys all the time because they're the only indie band I listen to that nobody has heard of. Maybe this thread will get them some love.

www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub (http://www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub)

www.rooftopsuicideclub.com (http://www.rooftopsuicideclub.com) used to work too, not sure why it's not now...

more tunes at http://www.rhapsody.com/rooftopsuicideclub

Anyway, really catchy stuff - very melodic and lots of sweet harmonies. Check it out.

[/ QUOTE ]
Straight up, given what happened to me some time ago (and some of the posts people were making about it in BBV) I thought the first time you posted this link for me was a sick joke. Then I found out they're a real band! And they cite a lot of influences I like (Big Star and Wilco most notably).

[psy]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm on a big ambient kick lately...

[/ QUOTE ]

Good list cobrakai. Mr Beast (Mogwai) has been on pretty high rotation for me lately.

Definately check out Fixed:Content by Labradford (on the Kranky label same as GYBE).

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre500/e504/e50404o5nrs.jpg

The first track alone is worth the price of admission. Very atmospheric, deep and beautiful. Good for insomnia too.

[Jay.]

[ QUOTE ]
cobrakai, check out this will destroy you. They sound a lot like explosions in the sky, and their album was probably one of the best of 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXmWUAXMYQ

[/ QUOTE ]

Reminds me somewhat of Hope of the States too. Very cool.

[psy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Great call on Dismemberment Plan, as I mentioned in the Of Montreal thread E6 bands are the shizzle.

I'm on a big ambient kick lately so I will throw out a few names: Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Rios, Bell Orchestre (Arcade Fire sister band), and my favorite:

Godspeed You Black Emperor. Amazing orchestral rock that gives me the chills everytime I listen to it. Moya (http://youtube.com/watch?v=7sPHMgSmPiA)

[/ QUOTE ]

Throw some Dirty Three on top of that. Start with Horse Stories and move forward chronoligically. The stuff before Horse Stories is also excellent but less ambient.

KJS

[/ QUOTE ]

I personally was a left little disappointed by their latest effort Cinder, but I second the recommendation of Horse Stories - but lordy it is depressing. I haven't heard any other Dirty Three but I did see them live ages ago and that was a great gig.

[Slow Play Ray]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I recommend these guys all the time because they're the only indie band I listen to that nobody has heard of. Maybe this thread will get them some love.

www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub (http://www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub)

www.rooftopsuicideclub.com (http://www.rooftopsuicideclub.com) used to work too, not sure why it's not now...

more tunes at http://www.rhapsody.com/rooftopsuicideclub

Anyway, really catchy stuff - very melodic and lots of sweet harmonies. Check it out.

[/ QUOTE ]
Straight up, given what happened to me some time ago (and some of the posts people were making about it in BBV) I thought the first time you posted this link for me was a sick joke. Then I found out they're a real band! And they cite a lot of influences I like (Big Star and Wilco most notably).

[/ QUOTE ]

ha, that's funny because they have a disclaimer on the cd "rooftop suicide club is not a real club, it's a band. please don't kill yourself" or something like that.

*edit* i'm not familiar with what happened to you some time ago, did you fall off a roof or something?

[psy]

[ QUOTE ]
One of the bands that I was recently introduced to and love is Akron/Family. They came out with a new album called Meek Warrior but I haven't heard it. The album I love is self-titled. Akron/Family: Akron/Family

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm slowly going through this thread and it is awesome! Yes Akron/Family is probably my favorite album of 2005 - well, it's up there anyway. Meek Warrior is not as good as the debut but it has its moments - especially the first track. I would also like to hear their collaboration with Angels of Light.

[psy]

[ QUOTE ]
The new Explosions in the Sky album, "All of a Sudden I Miss Everybody" (or something like that), is quite good. They're the band that did the Friday Night Lights movie soundtrack, and their music is in just about every episode of the TV show.

[/ QUOTE ]

For fans of EITS, did you know you can download the entire album The Rescue (not available in stores) from their website? I'd provide a link but the site is unavailable to me right now for some reason. But it's easy to find.

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I recommend these guys all the time because they're the only indie band I listen to that nobody has heard of. Maybe this thread will get them some love.

www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub (http://www.myspace.com/rooftopsuicideclub)

www.rooftopsuicideclub.com (http://www.rooftopsuicideclub.com) used to work too, not sure why it's not now...

more tunes at http://www.rhapsody.com/rooftopsuicideclub

Anyway, really catchy stuff - very melodic and lots of sweet harmonies. Check it out.

[/ QUOTE ]
Straight up, given what happened to me some time ago (and some of the posts people were making about it in BBV) I thought the first time you posted this link for me was a sick joke. Then I found out they're a real band! And they cite a lot of influences I like (Big Star and Wilco most notably).

[/ QUOTE ]

ha, that's funny because they have a disclaimer on the cd "rooftop suicide club is not a real club, it's a band. please don't kill yourself" or something like that.

*edit* i'm not familiar with what happened to you some time ago, did you fall off a roof or something?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes.

[psy]

The Microphones (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/microphones/1/)

I purchased The Glow Pt.2 on a whim based on a Pitchfork review. I hate the pretentiousness of some of their reviewers but whatever - they can deliver the occasional gem and this is one. I now have everything and it's all recommended (bar Live in Japan). The Glow Pt.2 though remains my favorite along with It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water.

I don't know how to describe their music... the new slacker pop? They always get an album listen rather than a iPod shuffle which I guess is how I listen to most music these days. Some songs are available on MySpace (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=378 70007) though so check it out.


I got a couple of other recommendations - different kind of genres - but I'll save them for now.

[Event Duality]

Nath, I think posting some of the recent mixes would be better for this thread, as I think that would include more artists. Then, based on the tracks you list, others can expand a particular bands playlist on their own. Of course, just listing a bunch of bands would work too. I'm a sucker for new bands to listen to.

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
I purchased The Glow Pt.2 on a whim based on a Pitchfork review. I hate the pretentiousness of some of their reviewers but whatever - they can deliver the occasional gem and this is one.

[/ QUOTE ]
Here's my take on Pitchfork: The reviews aren't always accurate-- they miss some good albums sometimes, for dumb reasons-- but if they say an album is very good, it never fails. That said, most of the writing on the site is completely insufferable.

[Slow Play Ray]

Another band I like a lot that I think fits in the indie category is State Radio - they have the best rock/reggae sound going, IMO. They have the heavy political undertones a la Rage Against The Machine, but the music is much less agressive for the most part. It's actually Chad Stokes' (from Dispatch) new band.

www.stateradio.com (http://www.stateradio.com)

[tdarko]

nath,

"Here's my take on Pitchfork: The reviews aren't always accurate-- they miss some good albums sometimes, for dumb reasons-- but if they say an album is very good, it never fails. That said, most of the writing on the site is completely insufferable."

Word. There are so many times I have read a review of theirs in which they bashed an album and came away thinking the album could still possibly be great but their percentage of great reviews to great albums is damn high.

Now what does make me laugh is when they give a 9.9, wtf. It must have been a misused snare on track 6 to deduct .1 obviously!

[Claunchy]

td,

I think a 9.9 means "this album is perfect, except it's not a Radiohead album, so -.1."

[tdarko]

"I think a 9.9 means "this album is perfect, except it's not a Radiohead album, so -.1.""

Or NMH!!!!

[nath]

Okay, by request, three mix CDs I recently made.

The first one was for my friend Jacki-- so yes, I included a few songs with her name in it (although I feel like I forced "Jacqueline" into the mix, and somehow I forgot Olivia Tremor Control's "Memories of Jacqueline 1906"). I made this around Christmastime:

Teenage Fanclub - "The Concept"
Franz Ferdinand - "Jacqueline"
Badfinger - "No Matter What"
Elvis Costello - "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"
Wilco - "Outtasite (Outta Mind)"
The Raspberries - "Go All the Way"
Eagles of Death Metal - "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)"
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - "2nd Ave, 11 AM"
The New Pornographers - "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras"
Lyle Lovett - "That's Right (You're Not From Texas)"
Squeeze - "Black Coffee in Bed"
The Secret Machines - "The Road Leads Where It's Led"
My Morning Jacket - "Anytime"
The Zombies - "Time of the Season"
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra - "Some Velvet Morning"
The New Pornographers - "Jackie"
Annie - "Me Plus One"
Junior Boys - "More Than Real"
Broken Social Scene - "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl"
The White Stripes - "Your Southern Can Is Mine"


This second mix was for my friend Emily a few weeks ago. She requested folkier music, so I tried to oblige.

Joanna Newsom - "Bridges and Balloons"
The Decemberists - "California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade"
Teenage Fanclub - "Chords of Fame"
Big Star - "Thirteen"
Antony and the Johnsons - "Hope There's Someone"
Devendra Banhart - "This Is the Way"
Iron & Wine - "Sodom, South Georgia"
Neko Case - "Star Witness"
Kings of Convenience - "I'd Rather Dance with You"
Wilco - "Company in My Back" (live)
The Zombies - "A Rose for Emily"
Olivia Tremor Control - "The Opera House"
My Morning Jacket - "Off the Record"
Lyle Lovett - "That's Right (You're Not from Texas)"
Ryan Adams - "To Be Young"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Ghost"
DevotchKa - "We're Leaving"
The White Stripes - "Your Southern Can Is Mine"
Colin Meloy - "Bridges and Balloons" (live)


This last mix I just made for someone who was a self-professed Zappa and Captain Beefheart fan but also wanted to know what I was really into. So I start it off with a couple of goofy songs for her, but then include a bunch of my favorites. I think it transitions really well; it may be my favorite mix of the three.

Warren Zevon - "Excitable Boy"
Ween - "Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony?"
Rufus Wainwright - "April Fools"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland, 1945"
The New Pornographers - "Letter From an Occupant"
Big Star - "September Gurls"
R.E.M. - "Superman"
Van Morrison - "The Way Young Lovers Do"
Belle and Sebastian - "Your Cover's Blown"
The Happy Mondays - "Step On"
The Flaming Lips - "Race for the Prize (remix)"
Of Montreal - "The Party's Crashing Me"
Q and Not U - "Wonderful People"
Wilco - "nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)"
The Hold Steady - "Stuck Between Stations"
The Soft Boys - "Kingdom of Love"
Billy Bragg & Wilco - "Walt Whitman's Niece"
Television - "Venus"
The Replacements - "Waitress in the Sky"
Martha Wainwright - "Factory"
Ray Lamontagne - "Crazy"

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
"I think a 9.9 means "this album is perfect, except it's not a Radiohead album, so -.1.""

Or NMH!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
or My Bloody Valentine.

[KOTLP]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you! These guys are awesome. I can't wait til the US CD comes out next month.

[Potvaliant]

Great thread. I don't often search out new music these days and it's nice to find so much that's good in one place.

Anyone who likes sleepy Southern-style folk might want to check out The Mendoza Line (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/mendoza%20line/1/) . "Let's Not Talk About It" is a song I find myself listening to again and again.

An article (http://www.slate.com/id/2158151/) in slate about almost-unavailable Japanese/foreign music on iTunes led me to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7kfz2w0WNo) cool youtube video by Straightener.

[psy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"I think a 9.9 means "this album is perfect, except it's not a Radiohead album, so -.1.""

Or NMH!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
or My Bloody Valentine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or Pavement.

[Claunchy]

The Paper Chase - Now You Are One of Us

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2328/paperchaseoneofuskw1.jpg

I had to represent the hometown a little here, as these guys are from Dallas. These guys are sorta weirdish avant-rock. Everything is really crazy; there are usually lots of plinky pianos and noisy guitars. Yet somehow, through all that, their songs are super catchy.

Here (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+paper+chase) is their Hype Machine page. I'd recommend We Know Where You Sleep.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

[ QUOTE ]
They're the band that did the Friday Night Lights movie soundtrack

[/ QUOTE ]

I just had a 'whoah' moment

[tdarko]

Claunchy,

I have seen The Paper Chase at the Granada. I think seeing them live made me like their music more. This was back when they would do three day sets in Dallas, too bad they don't do this anymore.

[luegofuego]

belle and sebastian is one of my fave bands. other awesome british indie = everything from sarah records basically - field mice, another sunny day, orchids, blueboy etc.
orange juice, the original indie pop band basic, some great tracks are falling and laughing, blueboy, wan light, intuition told me so, etc.
fosca - awesome indiepopdisco with sick witty/beautiful/funny/sad lyrics. best songs = supine on the astroturf, storytelling johnny, secret crush on third trombone, some other stuff
black tambourine - kinda proto shoegaze, lots of distortion and feedback, really really good
stockholm monsters - very underrated manchester band, kinda got pushed aside by new order etc but theyre great. very dark and postpunkish. check out party line, national pastime, your uniform and every other song basically.

also, My Favorite from new york is a great band thats currently active. check out working class jacket, homeless club kids, lets stay alive, love at absolute zero etc
the aislers set, completely sick band from san fransisco, [censored] sick eclectic sounding production, sounds like beach boys mixed with joy division mixed with phil spector mixed with the smiths, completely awesome melodies and stuff too. might take a while to digest properly tho, i dunno. my fave songs = saras song, the way to market station, been hiding, long division, mission bells, the walk...

uh theres more obviously but i probably shouldnt make it longer.

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]
Claunchy,

I have seen The Paper Chase at the Granada. I think seeing them live made me like their music more. This was back when they would do three day sets in Dallas, too bad they don't do this anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]
I used to see them at Rubber Gloves in Denton all the time back in college. They definitely put on a great show.

[tdarko]

Holy [censored], lol...Rubber Gloves! UNT what what!

[CallMeIshmael]

OK... its only been mentioned once that I can see... and in a manner of just ripping on pitchfork.. so, with no futher ado

http://www.neutralmilkhotel.net/nmh5.jpg

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)

I think its the best thing Ive ever heard

[tdarko]

CMI,

I figured the gold standards were in no need to be mentioned.

I got one that I have been listening to all day, not really indie actually...just a supergroup

Damon Albarn-Blur, Gorillaz
Paul Simonon-The Clash
Simon Tong-The Verve
Tony Allen-Afrobeat co-founder
Danger Mouse

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/bo0001/tgtbtq.jpg

The reviews have been mixed but I have a sweet spot for dark and moody music.

[yvesaint]

The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower
The Dilinger Escape Plan

these are both rock/punk/hardcore bands that incorporate jazz/fusion elements .....real sick stuff, its such a shame that plot stopped putting stuff out. not to mention i heard their live shows were crazy

as for the more standard indie scene stuff, the following bands all have new albums either already out or coming out very soon that are pretty sick (ive listened to / have all of them)

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (great album, not as groundbreaking or spectacular as Funeral, but a solid album nonetheless)

Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City (meh, definitely doesnt have enough good solid songs, definitely in a different direction than Silent Alarm)

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer (sick album, a little more experimental than previous albums, but still has such a catchy feel to all the songs. theres so much stuff in their heads its crazy)

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away (solid album, nothing crazy or groundbreaking again)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder (more experimental, definitely a diff direction, but that comes w/the freedom of not having a label breathing on their backs)

[yvesaint]

also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there

Mogwai
M83
A Silver Mt. Zion
Godspeed! You Black Emperor
My Bloody Valentine

etc.

[cobrakai111]

Nath mentioned them in one of his mixes but I really recommend checking out Kings of Convenience. They are like a modern Simon and Garfunkle. Start with I'd Rather Dance With You and Surprise Ice for songs and work from there. I'd actually recommend almost anything under the Astralwerks label.

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there

Mogwai
M83
A Silver Mt. Zion
Godspeed! You Black Emperor
My Bloody Valentine

etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

yves - you might like Boards of Canada. worth a shot, anyway-- start with Music Has the Right to Children and go from there.

[cbloom]

[ QUOTE ]
also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there


[/ QUOTE ]

Mercury Rev
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/mercury+rev

Spaceman 3
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/spacemen+3

Mojave 3
http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/mojave+3
listen to "Love Songs on the Radio"

(older stuff = more shoegaze for all of them, I think they all went pop in later years, a lot of the stuff on Hype Machine is newer so you don't get an accurate sample)

[Claunchy]

Well, since yves brought up shoegaze, and I think this sorta qualifies (if it doesn't, oh well, it's still one of the best albums EVAR):

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/552/b0000036x301lzzzzzzzrn6.jpg

I have to admit that I like, but don't love, Yo La Tengo. Some of their albums tend to meander on forever with no direction.

This album is awesome though because it mixes in the meandering with some catchy pop hooks, which makes it (IMHO) infinitely more listenable/accessible than some of their other albums.

I'd recommend this (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/"return%20to%20hot%20chicken"/1/) track to those of you who haven't ever heard this. It's the first song on the album, and is pretty indicative of the album's sound.

OMG WTF WON'T THIS LINK WORK

[cbloom]

Claunchy, that song is one of my favorites of all time. I *highly* *highly* recommend a YLT live show to anyone who can see one. They do an amazing series of shows every year in Hoboken, like 11 nights in a row for Hannukah or something, with lots of guest stars, variety acts, and a general fun time. They are super creative and do amazing covers. You're right that a lot of their albums have too much experimental crap, they could really use a hard-ass producer forcing them to cut the chaff.

[yvesaint]

I Am Not Afraid And I Will Beat Your Ass is the latest yo la tengo album too, its been on basically every indie lovers list for the past few months

though i still like I Can Hear The Heart Beating the best

also another indie branch is definitely the whole BSS scene.

Broken Social Scene
Leslie Feist (hottt)
Stars

and the chick in stars also has her own solo stuff, its more country-folksy thougb

[cobrakai111]

[ QUOTE ]
I Am Not Afraid And I Will Beat Your Ass is the latest yo la tengo album too, its been on basically every indie lovers list for the past few months

though i still like I Can Hear The Heart Beating the best

also another indie branch is definitely the whole BSS scene.

Broken Social Scene
Leslie Feist (hottt)
Stars

and the chick in stars also has her own solo stuff, its more country-folksy thougb

[/ QUOTE ]

Love BSS hate Feist, I might be in the minority for that. She is hot, but I just think someone ike Jenny Lewis as a female lead is 10x better. Guess that's a plug for Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley since neither has been mentioned yet.

[firstyearclay]

[ QUOTE ]
Well I've pumped this album a few different times on the board, might as well do it again.

The Format-Dog Problems
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000FVBLGQ.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I'm not a music expert, so I can't give you any in depth analysis of the album. I can tell you that I loved this album since I first got it and it is still in regular rotation with me. Their most popular single was The Compromise (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/228009) which got pretty regular play on Sirius Alt Nation. I like pretty much every track on the album and I can't really pick a favorite, but some highlights are Time Bomb (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/229247) and She Doesn't Get It (http://hype.non-standard.net/track/214037) .

[/ QUOTE ]

I bought this album after a few previews on ITUNES. I sent a PM to BWEBB a couple of days ago to tell him how incredibly awesome this album is. I think I compared this band to Queen/Ozma/Mae/Get Up Kids. Time Bomb is a great song (listening as I type) as well as the rest of the album.

Absolutely great recommendation BWebb. I will toast to you tonight!

FYC

[SL__72]

Does the Shins new album remind anyone else of Dog Problems from time to time?

[Jack of Arcades]

OK, on Neon Bible.

Funeral had 10 songs. I'd say of they broke down like this:

Awesome (4): Tunnels, Power Out, Wake Up
Good (3): Rebellion, Laika, In the Backseat
Meh (1): Une Annee Sans Lumiere
[censored] (2): Crown of Love, 7 Kettles

Neon Bible has 11 songs.
Awesome (6): Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, The Well and the Lighthouse, Antichrist Television Blues, No Cars Go, Intervention
Good (3): Windowsill, Black Wave/Bad Vibration, Ocean of Noise,
Meh songs: (2): Neon Bible, My Body is a Cage.

[firstyearclay]

[ QUOTE ]
OK... its only been mentioned once that I can see... and in a manner of just ripping on pitchfork.. so, with no futher ado

http://www.neutralmilkhotel.net/nmh5.jpg

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)

I think its the best thing Ive ever heard

[/ QUOTE ]

definitely a fine wine. I two-headed boy on a complilation album a few years back. Came out ok. I love these guys. Would pay a fortune to see them live (or have seen them).

FYC

[firstyearclay]

ok I am gonna add a band to this list:

"Mew"

They have two albums and both of them are spectacular.

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00008OU5O.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Mew - Frengers

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000AV47XK.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites

2 great songs to get you started:

Frengers - She Came Home for Christmas
And the Glass... - The Zookeeper's Boy

FYC

[SL__72]

And the Glass Handed Kite is a spectacular album.

Their album covers are awful though.

[private joker]

Aha! I expected to see SL_72 reply to that post. He and I were the only ones to post in this thread (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=exchange&Number=7638126&S earchpage=1&Main=7638126&Words=kasabian&topic=&Sea rch=true#Post7638126) about me seeing Mew live (with Kasabian).

I agree, clay, they are great.

[firstyearclay]

Yah the album cover has to be a "band" inside joke or something.

Frengers is growing on me as a great great album.

Just read that thread pj. I agree about the wall of sound.

I'll have to admit they are a hard sell. I went to my AIM and spoke with a few friends who respect me musically and its hard to get them on board because of Jonah's (Jonas) voice.

They have some Rhapsody sessions on youtube that are amazing.

FYC

[Jigsaws]

Oh boy, indie lovefests! Claunchy, I'll follow your format and post one album at a time. These kinds of threads very easily devolve into listmania.

iLIKETRAINS - Progress - Reform

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6325/00iliketrainsprogressre5pm.jpg

This one is for anyone loving ambient/orchestral/post-rock. The songs have the same spun-out and somewhat bombastic, apocalyptic feel of Godspeed, but this little album is done in a little over 30 minutes. The lyrics are fairly unusual in that they don't seem to handle typical introspective indie topics. Rather, they take on the perspectives of seemingly random persons, or groups even. In Terra Nova, we have an explorer...

How could I
Have led these men to their demise
And they just follow?
Exploration's last great prize
It wasn't mine

And mores the shame
You will remember my name

Great god this is an awful place [...]

The Beeching Report seems to be a sad lament from a lone railway worker suffering under the Beeching Axe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_Axe). Until everyone chimes in and chants to Mr. Beeching:

REFORM, REFORM
Oh you are taking apart what we made
With our hands and our hearts
Mr Beeching I put it to you you're driving a stake through the land of our hands and our hearts
further to this there is nothing you can say

A Rook House For Bobby sings from the lonely chess genius Bobby Fischer, The Accident sketches a little scene of an accidental poisoning, Stainless Steel subtly weaves and weaves into a crescendo of enraged murder...

What these topics have in common I don't know. Seemingly random, but the lyrics are very very sharp and appropriately backed by dark, moody, gothic music. If you like anything by Sigur Ros or Godspeed You Black Emperor, I think you'll love this.

Listen here (http://www.myspace.com/iliketrains).

[firstyearclay]

iLIKETRAINS = Interpol and Explosions in the Sky meets Pink Floyd and the Crash Test Dummies lead singer.

good post jig.

FYC

[cobrakai111]

Great call on Mew. I was kinda bummed at there live performance and expected more (didn't help that they were curtain jerking for Secret Machines and Bloc Party) the CD's are excellent.

[7ontheline]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, on Neon Bible.

Funeral had 10 songs. I'd say of they broke down like this:

Awesome (4): Tunnels, Power Out, Wake Up
Good (3): Rebellion, Laika, In the Backseat
Meh (1): Une Annee Sans Lumiere
[censored] (2): Crown of Love, 7 Kettles



[/ QUOTE ]

You didn't like Crown of Love? I kinda like it. Also, I think Rebellion (Lies) is by far my favorite song on the album - not because other songs are bad but because it is SO good.

Anyway, I checked out the Fratellis based on this thread and really like their album. Anyone else have any recommendations for faster, higher energy type music? (Say, like the Fratellis, Thermals, Pipettes, Go Team, and such.) I like more ambient or down-tempo stuff just fine but I usually need something livelier to keep me awake when driving long distances.

CMI: The awesomeness of NMH is hardly news to anyone around here but I agree that Aeroplane is the best album I've ever heard.

[ClassicBob]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, on Neon Bible.

Funeral had 10 songs. I'd say of they broke down like this:

Awesome (4): Tunnels, Power Out, Wake Up
Good (3): Rebellion, Laika, In the Backseat
Meh (1): Une Annee Sans Lumiere
[censored] (2): Crown of Love, 7 Kettles

Neon Bible has 11 songs.
Awesome (6): Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, The Well and the Lighthouse, Antichrist Television Blues, No Cars Go, Intervention
Good (3): Windowsill, Black Wave/Bad Vibration, Ocean of Noise,
Meh songs: (2): Neon Bible, My Body is a Cage.

[/ QUOTE ]

Headlights Look Like Diamonds from their EP is their best song.

[Black Wings]

The Holloways (http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-This-Great-Britain-Holloways/dp/B000IY037S/sr=1-1/qid=1171100874/ref=sr_1_1/203-6165583-8899163?ie=UTF8&s=music)

Like the libertines, best tracks are Dancefloor and Fook Ups.

the rifles (http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Love-Lost-Rifles/dp/B000FMR3UI/sr=1-1/qid=1171101074/ref=sr_1_1/203-6165583-8899163?ie=UTF8&s=music)

Awesome ablum, stand out songs include Local boy, Hometown blues, Peace and quiet and Robin hood.

[Jigsaws]

Wow Claunchy, I'm only 10 minutes into The Magnolia Electric Co., but this is really good.

[cobrakai111]

[ QUOTE ]
CMI: The awesomeness of NMH is hardly news to anyone around here but I agree that Aeroplane is the best album I've ever heard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Out of curiousity does anyone not like NMH? This band/album might deserve its own thread.

[delta k]

What about the Kooks? I just heard them today and really like them. Anyone have opinions?

[nath]

The latest albums I've picked up recently that I dig are Lily Allen (Alright, Still) and Peter Bjorn & John (Writer's Block). I really like Lily Allen in particular-- very, very pop, but very good and with a pull-no-punches sense of humor.

I haven't listened to Peter Bjorn & John as much, but so far I dig it, and I really like "Let's Call It Off" (which may or may not be the single-- I heard it on Sirius).

Anyone else have any opinion on either of these?

[leehrat]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd recommend this (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/"return%20to%20hot%20chicken"/1/) track to those of you who haven't ever heard this. It's the first song on the album, and is pretty indicative of the album's sound.

OMG WTF WON'T THIS LINK WORK

[/ QUOTE ]

that song was only like 1 1/2 mins. long

[Jigsaws]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't listened to Peter Bjorn & John as much, but so far I dig it, and I really like "Let's Call It Off" (which may or may not be the single-- I heard it on Sirius).

[/ QUOTE ]
I listened to this a ton when it first came out, and I loved it, but I don't think it has a lot of lasting value. I never really feel like putting it on these days. Maybe that's just me getting jaded with new music too fast, though. It's still a great album.

[JaBlue]

some international recommendations:

Ricardo Villalobos: Chilean minimalist electronic dude. Meaning he uses one phrase or idea per song and tweaks it subtly. Sometimes no two bars are the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4RJsDuW4Q4

Dungen: swedish rock band. something very fulfilling about singing along to these guys and having no clue what it means.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEnUPKOejgg&mode=related&search=
not the actual video, but better audio quality than the alternative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4TTXYKViIc

I'm From Barcelona: Swedish funrock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwwbXHNGsjUh
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTqmob1dQYg


Cat Power: Pretty American clever soulful folksy singer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVGgGW1ZalY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B-MmqvfDv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuYQ7dF7Kvc

[Goldstone]

Some really good stuff in this thread.

Here's some that havent been mentioned yet (mostly British).

I'll do some youtube links for each later on.

- Beta Band
- The Coral
- The Doves
- The Guillemots
- Hot Chip
- Kaiser Chiefs
- Kasabian
- The Raconteurs
- The Strokes
- Supergrass
- Thievery Corporation
- Turin Brakes
- The View
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs

[Goldstone]

some for now

supergrass - moving (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdVpPvx-zJU)
kasabian - shoot the runner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byza2ylKlKs)
the view - wasted little djs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoY5X-dQq0M)
kaiser chiefs - i predict a riot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spYcp0ZB4nM)
hot chip - over and over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCz219Czzo4)
guillemots - annie lets not wait (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LAVp56u9HQ)
doves - man who told everything (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZEEchIC8O8)

[tdarko]

Ja,

Cat Power is a mainstay in my car. I always bring her up in these threads and I was trying not to this time. I am surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/bo0001/national.jpg

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
Dungen: swedish rock band. something very fulfilling about singing along to these guys and having no clue what it means.

[/ QUOTE ]
These guys are great live.

[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I haven't listened to Peter Bjorn & John as much, but so far I dig it, and I really like "Let's Call It Off" (which may or may not be the single-- I heard it on Sirius).

[/ QUOTE ]
I listened to this a ton when it first came out, and I loved it, but I don't think it has a lot of lasting value. I never really feel like putting it on these days. Maybe that's just me getting jaded with new music too fast, though. It's still a great album.

[/ QUOTE ]

weird, i feel the exact opposite. after listening to the cd for a few months now it still finds its way into my rotation. it also seems to match my different moods. i like it a lot.

[Mister Z]

I'm not sure how "indie" this band really is but I think a lot of people here might dig this band:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GIW9F0.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

They're a 3-piece from Ohio and have sort of a grunge-garage sounds I guess. I love Erika Wennerstrom voice and the odd vocal melodies she chooses. Their newest album is streaming on their website and it's really great.

Wiki-wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartless_Bastards
The Hype Machine: Heartless Bastards (http://hypem.com/search/the%20heartless%20bastards/1/)

Claunchy I'd love to hear any more rec's or reviews you might have - I'm loving Dismemberment Plan's 'Emergency and I' disc thanks to you!

[samsdmf]

[ QUOTE ]
Out of curiousity I'd be interested to know what people's sources are to find music out there. I have a buddy in the industry that tips me off, my big blog mainstays are Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum. Anyone else have any good recommendations for souces.

One more album that has been burning up my ipod lately which I'm sure most of you PAvement fans are familiar with:
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd400/d429/d4293106g00.jpg
I'm not a huge fan of pitchfork but this review (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21715) really nailed it giving the album a 9.9.

Last year David Berman finally toured with this band for the first time ever, perhaps the best and most endearing live show I have ever attended.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a fantastic fantastic call- pitchfork has some odd ratings but this is spot on

[samsdmf]

[ QUOTE ]
nath,

"Here's my take on Pitchfork: The reviews aren't always accurate-- they miss some good albums sometimes, for dumb reasons-- but if they say an album is very good, it never fails. That said, most of the writing on the site is completely insufferable."

Word. There are so many times I have read a review of theirs in which they bashed an album and came away thinking the album could still possibly be great but their percentage of great reviews to great albums is damn high.

Now what does make me laugh is when they give a 9.9, wtf. It must have been a misused snare on track 6 to deduct .1 obviously!

[/ QUOTE ]
Miles Davis Kind Of Blue is a 10, spot on there

[cobrakai111]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Out of curiousity I'd be interested to know what people's sources are to find music out there. I have a buddy in the industry that tips me off, my big blog mainstays are Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum. Anyone else have any good recommendations for souces.

One more album that has been burning up my ipod lately which I'm sure most of you PAvement fans are familiar with:
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd400/d429/d4293106g00.jpg
I'm not a huge fan of pitchfork but this review (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21715) really nailed it giving the album a 9.9.

Last year David Berman finally toured with this band for the first time ever, perhaps the best and most endearing live show I have ever attended.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a fantastic fantastic call- pitchfork has some odd ratings but this is spot on

[/ QUOTE ]

FYI: Silver Jews will be having a documentry debuting at SxSW this year about the shows they performed in the middle east. I'm am really looking forward to it. Seeing David Berman read his lyrics because he was fairly nervous while on stage and getting a kiss from his wife was one of the most emotional live moments I've ever seen at a concert.

[SL__72]

I'll second that recommendation. There was a few weeks this fall where All This Time and Neko Case's Fox Confessor album were pretty much all I listened to.

[gumpzilla]

Anybody familiar with Anti-Anti by Snowden? I've heard a couple of songs off of it from Pandora and it sounds pretty awesome. Confirm?

Just had my first listen to the new Bloc Party album. It's doing a lot less for me than the first one on the first listen. After three or four more listens, maybe I'll have a better idea about whether I like it or not.

[SL__72]

I saw Snowden a month or two ago opening for Forward Russia. They put on a decent show but it didn't really stand out. I kind of feel the same way about their CD. The songs pretty much all seem to range between decent and pretty good.

Forward Russia was a lot more fun... although the lead singer was a little scary. He kept spinning/throwing the mic all over the place and also wandered out into the crowd (it was a smallish club and it wasn't packed as it was really cold outside and on a Wednesday night)

[Avatar of Wine]

[ QUOTE ]
also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there

Mogwai
M83
A Silver Mt. Zion
Godspeed! You Black Emperor
My Bloody Valentine

etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

You might want to look into Beach House (self-titled), it's somewhat along those lines but different enough that it might keep your interest.

Nath -
I really like the Peter, Bjorn & John album - also, Girl Talk did a solid remix of "Let's Call It Off" that you can find here (myspace download) (http://www.myspace.com/girltalkmusic). /images/graemlins/heart.gif Girlf Talk

Recently the following have been in heavy rotation for me:

-Of Montreal, "Hissing Fauna ... " - I second all the raves from everyone else, just awesome
-Lifter Puller, "Fiestas & Fiascos" - I loved the new Hold Steady album, and so I've started getting more and more into Finn's earlier band . . . different, but solid
-Pernice Brothers, "Live a Little" - Mass's finest

[Hey_Porter]

Seems like a good thread to note my pleasure that Sebadoh, in its original form, is touring again. Love me the Lou Barlow.

[Jigsaws]

Okay, next album.

About - Bongo

http://www.popinstituut.nl/images/large/about_in_2006.103275.jpg

Possibly the best Dutch album of 2006. Actually, definitely the best Dutch album of 2006. In my iLIKETRAINS review the references to other bands were numerous. About is like nothing else I've got. Maybe... they have the energy of The Thermals... the roughness of Sonic Youth... some Prodigy influences and a nice whimsical side. The only ambition About seems to have is to rock. And rock they do... do you think you can resist chanting "Rockstar boyfriend, rockstar boyfriend, we rock the microphone, 1, 2, 3, 4, what's my name..."? I doubt it.

Listen to:
Think Niles Drink (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IUzETUGzITY).
Tough Cookie (Live) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JLzBxQKx4Xg)

And after you listen, go see them at SXSW or in NY (http://www.whataboutabout.com/home.php?nav=1).

[CIncyHR]

Just listened to the new Hella album, There's no 666 in Outer Space. They added a permanent bassist and vocalist to the previous two man lineup of Spencer Seim and Zach Hill. It makes the album a little more accessible than the old stuff. Hill's drummins is extraordinary as ever. Good listen first time through.

If you're into this kind of music, definitely check it out.

[mmbt0ne]

Saosin finally put out a full length CD towards the end of last year, granted with a different singer than the first time we talked about them. It's pretty good.

Circa Survive, the band with the original Saosin singer, is pretty much perfect.

EDIT: These are not really "indie lovefest" bands. They are a little heavier and screamier. In fact, most probably won't like Circa Survive, but give Act Appalled, The Great Golden Baby, and Stop the [censored] Car a shot to see. They're kinda Mars Volta-esque.

[SL__72]

Voxtrot - Up an coming Indie Pop band who haven't put out an LP yet but have 3 good EPs out so far:
Raised by Wolves
Biggest Fan
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

I'm sure most people have heard plenty about Califone by now (they have like 8 or 9 full length albums now) but I haven't seen them discussed much and just wanted to point out that their most recent album really is fantastic:

Califone - Roots and Crowns
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/586000.jpg

My favorite music review site (CMG) rated it the 3rd best album of 2006 and tried to explain it in one sentence:

[ QUOTE ]
combining the most adventurous experimental impulses with sheer pop accessibility, pinging everything from postpunk to modern electronica to some unknown ‘50s musician trying out their amp in different corners of the room just to judge the resonance.

[/ QUOTE ]

And finally, for those who really liked The Format, here is an older CD (2005) with a similar melodic/rock feel that I've pretty much never heard talked about anywhere (which I suppose could be a bad thing?).

Let Go - Let Go

http://www.merchline.com/storeimages/LETGO_cd.jpg

Anyway, you can stream it all here. (http://www.merchline.com/storeimages/LETGO_cd.jpg)

A good starting place would be "No Drugs, No Alcohol"

[firstyearclay]

That is a picture. What is the stream url?

FYC

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

[ QUOTE ]
also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there

Mogwai
M83
A Silver Mt. Zion
Godspeed! You Black Emperor
My Bloody Valentine

etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

A really good band that is close to the bands you listed is Múm which is an Icelandic band great electronic beats and some quirky instrumentation. I think of it as like M83, but lighter. M83 is very dark when it comes to this type of music, and I feel like Mum are the exact opposite. Another MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/mumtheband)...I would suggest listening to the 3rd song...it might come on right when you go to the page.

The Album Leaf is another band that sounds like something you might be interested in. I don't know much about it, but I guess it's the side project of somebody who plays in a post-rock band. It's a solo side project but it doesn't sound sparse by any means. The newest album Into the Blue Again is very, very good and I actually saw one of the singles on an latin MTV channel when I was in the Caribbean, so maybe they'll blow up soon (although I still doubt it). Here's the video for Always for You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwrVnOXB-o).

Finally, I would recommend Jesu for another band. It's a little less light than either of the above bands, but the guitar work is really amazing. I really like the Silver EP, although it's over 20 minutes long, so it's good value if you're buying it. Here's a link to their MySpace where you can listen to Star, one of the songs off of Silver. They have a new album named Conquerer that is supposedly good.

Linky (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=463 37638)

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
That is a picture. What is the stream url?

FYC

[/ QUOTE ]

My bad, here... (http://www.purevolume.com/letgo)

[kipin]

I've been getting into Indie music a little bit recently, and there are a couple of new albums no one on here seems to be talking much about.

The first is The Good The Bad and The Queen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_The_Bad_And_The_Queen) whose self-titled debut album was released on January 23rd.

Although technically a "supergroup" the sound is very Indie so I think it fits in well with this thread. The group is composed of lead singer Dave Albarn (You might recognize him from one of his two other bands Blur and the Gorillaz), Clash bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat pioneer and Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen. The album is produced by Danger Mouse, which I'm sure many of you have heard of due to the enormous success of his bootleg "Grey Album", as well as his work in the group Gnarls Barkley.

The album is getting pretty decent reviews from critics and effecitvely mixes electronic beats and sounds with traditional instruments. The general tone is somewhat dark and very melodic.

If you like the sound of the Gorillaz, this is probably an album worth checking out.

-----------------------------

The Arcade Fire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Arcade_Fire)

This Montreal groups second full album, "Neon Bible" is slated to be released on March 5th 2007, although it has leaked online.

The lead singer has a very David "Bowiesque" voice and has even performed live with him at the Fashion Awards. Video of this awesome performance can be found on YouTube here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=1-wEBmLht5g).

The album is very musical and uplifting. I can't really compare it to any other famous bands but if you are into complicated instrumentation you'll probably dig this album.

[cobrakai111]

Can we still call Arcade Fire indie?

No one has mentioned them because they are probably one of the top 5 hottest bands in the country now. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[SL__72]

Well it does say general music discussion thread. I kinda thought the (aka indie lovefest) was more of a warning then a request...

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]
Well it does say general music discussion thread. I kinda thought the (aka indie lovefest) was more of a warning then a request...

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.


Has anyone checked out the new Deerhoof? It's getting very solid reviews, but after one listen I just thought it was kinda annoying.

Am I a dumb philistine with no taste, or will this album grow on me, or does it just suck?

[SL__72]

It doesn't suck and would probably grow on you somewhat, but I'm not sure its worth the effort. This might be their most accessible album yet... but its still definitely experimental and has some noise influences. There is a lot of cool sounds and interesting song structures and rhythms.

There is a childish energy to both their sound and lyrics ("ChooChooChooChoo BeepBeep") that a lot of people apparently love that I do find kind of annoying. Still, they are definitely doing a lot of interesting/cool things...

[SL__72]

CMI, thanks for the NMH recommendation. I had never listened to that before and have been a lot for the last ~week. Its really good (my musical tastes were MUCH different in high school then they are now). Songs:Ohia was another really good CD I kind of skipped over, so thanks for that recommendation Claunchy...

I just finally got AF - Neon Bible and it is definitely my favorite CD of the year so far (funny I'm saying finally even though it isn't out for like 3 weeks).

I think JOA's breakdown of the songs is pretty much right on except that I would bump "My Body is a Cage" up to good, "Windowsill" up to awesome and "Intervention" up to probably the best song I've heard in a long time. This CD is really really good.

[Jack of Arcades]

I am on my 2nd listen through of Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. A few basic thoughts:

- This is at least their third best album. It has the potential to move up higher.
- The guitar work is absolutely fantastic, as is to be expected
- They've moved both closer to conventional rock and farther from it. There's definitely a few songs with a "Space Rock" feel. There are a lot of tempo changes, some of them only for a few seconds.
- "Dashboard," "Florida," and "Fly Trapped in a Jar" are amazing.

[ClassicBob]

Primal Scream - Screamadelica

Primal Scream is something I got from a friend a few years ago, and never really listened to, until it popped up on random in my iTunes, and I decided not to skip over it. Man, I was missing out, this album is amazing. It's a fun fusion of Indie Brit-pop and dance music, and has me bobbing my head and tapping my feet throughout the whole ride.

The back to back tracks of "Come Together" and "Loaded" is 18 minutes of musical orgy.

[nick604]

[ QUOTE ]
also for a while i got into that sort of shoegaze/noise/low-fi sort of stuff. ive hit up most of the notable names, wondering what else is out there

Mogwai
M83
A Silver Mt. Zion
Godspeed! You Black Emperor
My Bloody Valentine

etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

You might also want to check out:

Guitar (http://www.boomkat.com/artist.cfm?a=2151)

Ulrich Schnauss (http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=10674)

Electrelane (http://www.myspace.com/electrelane)

And the last Ladytron (http://www.myspace.com/ladytron) album sounded really My Bloody Valentine-ish too.

[MarkSummers]

and Explosions in the Sky

[Claunchy]

I just want to say that I've done a complete 180 on the latest Of Montreal album. Hissing Fauna... is officially awesome.

Try as I might, I just can't get into the Deerhoof album at all. Oh well, to each his own.

I just got The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse by The Besnard Lakes, and I'll post a review as soon as I get a good feel for it.

[cobrakai111]

Anyone out there have a concert report on the Arcade Fire shows in Washington Sq at the church? I just got my tickets for the Orpheum show in Boston and I'm pumped.

[ozyman]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone out there have a concert report on the Arcade Fire shows in Washington Sq at the church? I just got my tickets for the Orpheum show in Boston and I'm pumped.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't fortunate enough to go but all indications were that it was a great show. The whole concert is available at NPR The Arcade Fire in Concert (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7273765)

I hadn't heard about this before reading it the NPR webpage.
"That is why we leaked over 100 songs on Myspace.com as fake band names over the last year and then made a compilation of the 11 most popular songs and called it Neon Bible! You will hear the whole record in due time and I am sure it will all make sense."

Did anyone have a chance to come across any of the fake bands over the past year?

[brettbrettr]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[/ QUOTE ]

wow. this album is awesome.

[cobrakai111]

Just got back from a Lemonheads concert. Never been more pleasantly surprised about a show in my life. I went into it expecting a drugged out lead singer mumbling through some mediocre "hits" that were about 15 years old. Instead Evan Dando seemed really rejuvinated and excited to be on stage. I recommend them if they come around your way.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

The new Modest Mouse is sick. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since I started.

[cobrakai111]

[ QUOTE ]
The new Modest Mouse is sick. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since I started.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Faaaar better and less poppy then Good News in my opinion. Might become my second favorite to Lonesome Crowded.

[Spellmen]

[ QUOTE ]
and Explosions in the Sky

[/ QUOTE ]

Listened to the Friday Night Light's soundtrack twice yesterday at the gym and doing some research, and it always blows me away how perfect it is. I'm not sure if they got to see the movie beforehand or just read the script, but every song completely nails the scene, they all just fit so perfectly. Definitely up there on my all time movie soundtracks

[Tennenbaum]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll second that recommendation. There was a few weeks this fall where All This Time and Neko Case's Fox Confessor album were pretty much all I listened to.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've pretty much had Neko Case on constant rotation for the last 2 weeks. /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
The new Modest Mouse is sick. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since I started.

[/ QUOTE ]

quotedforsomemotherfuckingtruth. very, very good.

[MicroBob]

Very much digging an album from 2001 I believe from the No-No's called Tinnitus.

Somewhere in their little Rhapsody bio it says they are from San Francisco so perhaps ElD knows something about them.
They don't appear to be active any more.

I've been listening to this album a lot the past couple weeks.

Also found a couple older New Zealand bands called The Clean and The Bats.
Sound is reasonably similar to many indie-rock bands of today imo. Pretty ahead of their time because their stuff was early-mid 80's.

[Claunchy]

Okay, I know I said I'd post a review, but I can't really find the time, so suffice it to say that the recent Besnard Lakes album is awesome.

Like Beach Boys meets Sigur Ros or something, I dunno. Good stuff.

[thatpfunk]

" Faaaar better and less poppy then Good News in my opinion. Might become my second favorite to Lonesome Crowded."

i think this WWDBTSES is actually a really poppy album wrapped in a lot of other, um, stuff? Lots of distractors but definetly a poppy album. I also think it could be their best and is one of the best "indie" rock albums ive listened to in quite a while.

anywho, being poppy is not always bad.

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]

Like Beach Boys meets Sigur Ros or something

[/ QUOTE ]


Okay. This is such a ridiculous combination I just had to check them out.

Strangely enough, I think you're actually right.
Definitely more Sigur Ros of course. But some of their vocal harmonies definitely sound Beach Boys-ish.
This is weird.

I think I could like them. but now I can't get that damn Beach Boys impression out of my head. And I hate the freaking Beach Boys.

[JaBlue]

Haven't seen Elliott Smith mentioned yet, so I may as well. Folksy, poetic, emotive, sad... great songwriter. Mostly just guitar and singing. Killed himself.

Awesome rock version of Needle in the Hay: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_4gs4rSL5Os

I like his albums in this order [favorite to least]:
self-titled
from a basement under the hill
figure 8
either/or
xo
roman candle

[cobrakai111]

JaBlue, good mention. (I hate your order of his albums but that's just me and I'm really partial to XO!)

Have you heard his stuff from his previous band Heatmiser before? If you are a big Elliot fan I recommend giving it a listen, a lot more rocky like the link you provided no the best stuff in the world but a nice little piece to add to your elliot catalog.

[correia]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Like Beach Boys meets Sigur Ros or something

[/ QUOTE ]


Definitely more Sigur Ros of course. But some of their vocal harmonies definitely sound Beach Boys-ish.
This is weird.



[/ QUOTE ]
They sound very interesting, gonna have to check them out when I get home.

[tdarko]

[ QUOTE ]
Haven't seen Elliott Smith mentioned yet, so I may as well. Folksy, poetic, emotive, sad... great songwriter. Mostly just guitar and singing. Killed himself.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe not.

[Jay.]

LCD Soundsystem's new album is on their myspace. Doesn't sound as great as the first album, but i usually dislike everything on first listen.

I'm seeing them on Saturday, then NIN on Sunday this will be an awesome weekend.

[cobrakai111]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Haven't seen Elliott Smith mentioned yet, so I may as well. Folksy, poetic, emotive, sad... great songwriter. Mostly just guitar and singing. Killed himself.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe not.

[/ QUOTE ]

I refuse to believe a person would kill themself by stabbing themself in the chest.

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]
And I hate the freaking Beach Boys.

[/ QUOTE ]
WTF this is crazy talk.

[JaBlue]

[ QUOTE ]

Maybe not.

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF, that's all you're gonna say?

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Maybe not.

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF, that's all you're gonna say?

[/ QUOTE ]

? He may have been murdered.

[theblackkeys]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[/ QUOTE ]
I like it! Nice pick.

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]
Like Beach Boys meets Sigur Ros or something, I dunno. Good stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]
WTF I SHOULD WRITE FOR PITCHFORK

[ QUOTE ]
...that yields to a slumberous chorus of Brian Wilson harmonies...

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...sound like they're coming from a castrated Sigur Rós.

[/ QUOTE ]

[correia]

I'm really into The Fratellis as well. Heres a few other bands from the uk i've been digging:
The View
The Klaxtons
The Good, The Bad, and The Queen (performing a free show at the apple store in soho on monday)
Dirty Pretty Things

[Dominic]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll second that recommendation. There was a few weeks this fall where All This Time and Neko Case's Fox Confessor album were pretty much all I listened to.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've pretty much had Neko Case on constant rotation for the last 2 weeks. /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

loooooove Neko Case...check out Kathleen Edwards, too....she's awesome.

[centaurmyth]

It's amazing this thread has gone this far without any love for Pinback. Prog-Rock/Indie-pop at its finest... Amazing musicians, seamless tempo changes/transitions, and all around great vibe.

Most recent Pinback full-length album Pitchfork Review. (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20876/Pinback_Summer_in_Abaddon)

Pick any of their albums (or EP's) and you've found something that'll stay in rotation for a long time. Again, it fits into the Duke Ellington musical assessment, "If it sounds good, it is good." In this case, it's real good.

If that hits you right, you definitely won't go wrong with some of its members' central contributions to Black Heart Procession (mentioned already in this thread), and Three Mile Pilot (sample tracks 1,3, & 7 here (http://www.amazon.com/Another-Desert-Three-Mile-Pilot/dp/B000000SY9/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-4401987-9834203?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1173408703&sr=8-1) ... purchase, enjoy).

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

The Besnard Lakes having Beach Boy harmonies I can mostly accept, but the Sigur Ros is way off-base as far as my knowledge of Sigur Ros goes (I never gave Takk a good listen, but I'm very familiar with Agaetis Byrjun and ()), but there is just waaaaaay too much guitar (at least of the unbowed variety) in The Besnard Lakes to be Sigur Ros. There's one long-ass guitar solo in one of the songs and all I could help but think was...I'm pretty sure Sigur Ros have never done an extended guitar solo, ever.

I might give you Beach Boys + Mogwai though, which was the first post-rock type band I could think of that sounded like Besnard Lakes.

But I'm just being extremely nitpicky.

[Claunchy]

Dom: I'm a big Neko Case fan, and I'm really liking Kathleen Edwards a lot so far. Nice rec.

Mac: NIT /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[downbytheriver]

hey guys. cool thread. if anyone wants to check out my indie band its at www.myspace.com/thequarry1 (http://www.myspace.com/thequarry1) .. playin at triple challenge big air comp this weekend.
im a 1/2 grinder / musican... poker is a GREAT way to make an income for a guy in a band. all the rest of the guys have normal jobs have to wake up early after gigs ect. lol suckers

cheers guys. picked up alot of cool bands from this thread im gonna check out.. latley ive been diggin kasabian, kings of leon, the dears, matt mays and el torpedo, the stills.

[Marnixvdb]

Saw some very good suggestions from you all, and will check out some of the names that i had never heard about. I have a few names to add, which you may or may not already know about.

Don't think I have seen The Magic Numbers (http://myspace.com/themagicnumbers) mentioned yet. They've made some great songs, superb combined vocals. Too bad they choose to upload three of their less exciting songs next to Take a Chance on their myspace. Very poppy - their tunes sound as if you have known them for years already yet I can never directly tie them to another song.

A Band I recently fell in love with: CSS (http://www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy). OMG. Makes me really happy. Pretty sloppy play but who cares? The music and mentatity are irresistable. Blend of indie/electro-pop/punk by a bunch of brasilain arty brasilian girls and one dude who started making music without much knowledge of what to do with an instrument.

Also The Go! Team (http://www.myspace.com/thegoteam) is fricking awesome. Has an odd and very seductive raw originality and is super energetic/danceable. (does that last word exist?).

I've always loved Blonde Redhead (http://www.blonde-redhead.com) a lot, but have the impression they are more loved here (Holland/Europe... they are very influential in the Dutch indie-scene) than overseas. Am I right?

[SL__72]

Haven't listened to the rest of the people you suggested, but the Go! Team is super awesome. Loved their CD when it first came out and just got into it again recently for some reason. Very fun music and everyone should check it out!

[TheRover]

I just got this (http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rdu06jo571w0) yesterday. Pretty awesome stuff. Anyone into jazz or fusion ought to check it out.

And here's some cool videos of some Brazilian dudes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp6E0obTL1Y&mode=related&search=

rest are in the related section

[kipin]

Hey all. My roomate found this awesome group called the Soulsavers (http://www.myspace.com/soulsavers) and I am really digging them.

They have a heavy hip-hop, gospel, rock, and soul influence as well as some experimental sounds at times reminding me of Pink Floyd.

Their new album entitled Its Not How Hard You Fall Its the Way You Land (http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-How-Fall-Land/dp/B000LC4Y3Q/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8175877-3886226?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1173566557&sr=8-1) is due to come out in England (No US distributor) on April 5th 2007. The album features Mark Lanegan on eight of the tracks, who has a very unique and powerful voice.

This band is definitely worth checking out.

[NickMPK]

Getting Sirius has really brought me back into the indie loop; I had sort of lost track of a lot of it since college. I've always been really into britpop, and there seems to be a bunch of new bands to my liking.

Anyway, my favorite 6 tracks that they seem to play a lot on the Sirius "Left of Center" station:

1.) The Pipettes - Pull Shapes
2.) The View - Superstar Tradesman
3.) The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
4.) Cold War Kids - We Used to Vacation
5.) Robbers on High Street - The Fatalist
6.) Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby

Actually, over the past week, I've abandoned Siruis in favor of All Pipettes All The Time. Slightly embarrassing, but something about that album just does it for me.

[Jack of Arcades]

Nick,

About a month ago, "All Pipettes All the Time" was essentially what my gf and I did. The CD was in the cd player for a couple weeks. We've sinced moved on to a steady rotation of Modest Mouse, of Montreal, andJustin Timberlake.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

I was listening to some 2007 releases I hadn't gotten too and was struck by the album Tones of Town by Field Music. It's simply a well-constructed pop album that's more interesting than the usual indie pop fare. I like it a lot and it works well as an album and I really haven't been listening to albums in album format recently, so I think that's a big complement from me.

Anyway, I would listen to In Context on the Field Music MySpace Page (http://www.myspace.com/fieldmusic). If you want to read more about the album, head over to the AllMusic Page (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:x9ouaknkrm3v).

Let me know if you like it.

[Marnixvdb]

I've seen the pipettes live a couple of months ago, it was an ejoyable show. I like their tunes even though their music isn't exactly groundbreaking. Yet it has a sweet character and Phil Spector girl bands is not the worst choice of music to refer back to /images/graemlins/smile.gif Entertaining to say the least.

The show obv also made for good conversations about which girl was hottest/cutest/would make the best girl friend.

Has www.fabchannel.com (http://www.fabchannel.com) been mentioned? Features free video recordings of shows in Paradiso, Amsterdam and has some gems in their archives. A pipettes show is on their site, I scanned it quickly and it appears to be on the mediocre side (sound is lacking in presence). A great The Magic Numbers performance can be found as well.

btw All The Pipettes All The Time - is that how the album is named in the US?

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]
I've seen the pipettes live a couple of months ago, it was an ejoyable show. I like their tunes even though their music isn't exactly groundbreaking. Yet it has a sweet character and Phil Spector girl bands is not the worst choice of music to refer back to /images/graemlins/smile.gif Entertaining to say the least.

The show obv also made for good conversations about which girl was hottest/cutest/would make the best girl friend.

Has www.fabchannel.com (http://www.fabchannel.com) been mentioned? Features free video recordings of shows in Paradiso, Amsterdam and has some gems in their archives. A pipettes show is on their site, I scanned it quickly and it appears to be on the mediocre side (sound is lacking in presence). A great The Magic Numbers performance can be found as well.

btw All The Pipettes All The Time - is that how the album is named in the US?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it is just all I've listened to since I got it. The album is not yet out in the US; when it does come out this summer I'm sure it will have the same name as in the UK.

They are actually playing in the US this week...a couple shows in NY and then Austin for SXSW. I really wish I could go, but my work schedule is crazy this time of year. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
The show obv also made for good conversations about which girl was hottest/cutest/would make the best girl friend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Such a tough decision. RiotBecki has the badass librarian thing going on, Gwenno is the classicly hot, and Rosay is the uber cute one.

(pics at the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pipettes]wiki[/url for those who don't know)

[Hoopster81]

Any thoughts on the new Arcade Fire album? I've listened to it a couple times and think it's pretty good.

[Hank Scorpio]

I'll expand on my post later with some specific albums, but people who aren't familar with the Saddle-Creek record label out of Omaha yet need to definetely check it out.

[Event Duality]

I agree. I am a pretty big Saddle Creek fan myself.

[cobrakai111]

Can anyone here recommend a good Guided by Voices album? I've heard all the "best of" stuff but I don't know where I should start in terms of original albums.

Few quick other thoughts:
Neon Bible gets better and better, I cannot wait for the show.
Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs) is heavy in my rotation now.
I passed on a free Shins ticket for this Thursday to watch college hoops. Not sure if that's how much I disliked the show at Webster Hall or how much I like college hoops.
If anyone is at SxSW this weekend try to check out the band my buddy is managing West Indian Girl. Feel free to give them a listen http://www.myspace.com/westindiangirl

[MrDiz]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[/ QUOTE ]

Fantastic band. Popped my crowd surfing cherry at their gig a couple weeks back, great night. Had to go an hour afterwards with one shoe on tho after someone pulled if off mid surf heh.

[nyc999]

Albert Hammond Jr. - Yours to Keep

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2502/ahxv9.jpg

Albert Hammond Jr. is the guitarist for the Strokes and released his first solo album last week. I'm not a huge Strokes fan, but I love this album. Very mellow, and one of those few albums that are great from start to end.

You can listen to the entire album on his MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/alberthammondjr).

[SL__72]

Two newish CDs I've been listening to lately:

Menomena - Friend and Foe
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000LP6KKS.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

According to wikipedia it is "experimental rock" but its really easy to like... think a softer Animal Collective maybe. Both CMG and Pitchfork loved this album rating it 87 and 8.5 respectively.

You can check out a few of their songs on their MySpace page here. (http://myspace.com/menomena)


The second one is the new The Apples In Stereo album, New Magnetic Wonder
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000JRYO9C.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Robert Schneider, the singer/guitarist/songwriter for this band was one of the founders of The Elephant Six Collective. Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel was another of the E6 founders and Of Montreal is another band that was spawned from an E6 project. The Elephant Six Collective (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elephant_Six_Collective)

Its a really catchy album and is both well written and well produced.

The Apples In Stereo on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/theapplesinstereo)

Cool "making of" series on YouTube: this is 4/5:

The Apples in stereo: Recording "New Magnetic Wonder" 4/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ9Jy85rbZk)

[JaBlue]

RATATAT

going to see these guys april 3rd, it should rule:

two guitarists form this funky electronic-sounding group. Hard to explain or compare, so just listen. Favorite song by far is 17 years from their first album Ratatat. In general I like the second album Classics better.

pitchfork review: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21474/Ratatat_Ratatat

music:
weird asian music video for 17 years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0P7YVVopNY&mode=related&search=

actual music video for germany to germany from s/t:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWrqkpFssjc

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

Have you heard the Ratatat remixes? Volume 1 was never released commercially but you can find it on the web (it's been around since 2004) and Volume 2 is slowly being leaked on various blogs. They take hip-hop songs and lay their own production behind the vocals and the results are almost always amazing. I think the best way to describe Ratatat is definitely hip-hop production with guitars.

If you like Ratatat, I think you'd probably like Eliot Lipp too. He has the same type of hip-hop beats with keyboards instead of guitars. Still sounds very fresh even if some of the actual drum beats are derivative.

Anyway, if you want to check out some of those remixes, this is a 3 Kings Remix (http://www.zshare.net/audio/093kings-mp3.html) which I got from www.discobelle.net (http://www.discobelle.net) and then there are the Beanie Sigel and Jay Z - Glock Nine (http://pharrellfluokids.free.fr/06GlockNines.mp3) and Young Buck - Shorty Wanna Ride (http://pharrellfluokids.free.fr/05ShortyWannaRide.mp3) remixes which are available from fluokids.blogspot.com

Oh yeah, I saw them live a while ago and they were awesome.

[Enon]

A few lesser known artists:

Excellent up and coming seattle indie rock band. Nothing innovative but very well written songs for a lead man this young: The Fleet Foxes (http://myspace.com/fleetfoxes)

Final Fantasy (aka Owen Pallet) is starting to gain some more press as the string arranger for Arcade Fire and the Hidden Cameras and is currently opening for Bloc Party. Lots of violin, strings, good melodies and strong narrative lyrics. His live show is incredible. Only him and a violin and a loop pedal and layers the whole track as he goes. Very impressive musician. Final Fantasy (http://www.myspace.com/owenpalletmusic)

Panda Bear is one of the main songwriters in Animal Collective and has a great new album thats not out yet, called Person Pitch. Compared to animal collective, the vocals are more sedated, the tracks more computer generated/processed and less cathartic but he still brings with him the same melodic strengths he has in AC. Panda Bear (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=418 06556)

[Mondogarage]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll second that recommendation. There was a few weeks this fall where All This Time and Neko Case's Fox Confessor album were pretty much all I listened to.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've pretty much had Neko Case on constant rotation for the last 2 weeks. /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

loooooove Neko Case...check out Kathleen Edwards, too....she's awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

And check out the various tracks Neko's done on various Sadies albums. Soooo awesome.

Also, if you like Neko on the lowfi Brit tip, I cannot recommend Holly Golightly strongly enough. I'm at work, but I'll try to link a couple album covers later.

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
A few lesser known artists:

Panda Bear is one of the main songwriters in Animal Collective and has a great new album thats not out yet, called Person Pitch. Compared to animal collective, the vocals are more sedated, the tracks more computer generated/processed and less cathartic but he still brings with him the same melodic strengths he has in AC. Panda Bear (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=418 06556)

[/ QUOTE ]

I came to mention this album since it came out this week... didn't know it had already been mentioned.

This is probably the best week in a long time for new releases.

Panda Bear > LCD Soundsystem > Modest Mouse > Awesome!

[Jack of Arcades]

I can't stand Animal Collective. Is Panda Bear any better?

[blah_blah]

[ QUOTE ]

Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs) is heavy in my rotation now.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very good album (or three!), if (more than) a little oddball /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't stand Animal Collective. Is Panda Bear any better?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I generally like Animal Collective and I would say that I definitely like this Panda Bear CD more. It is also a completely different type of music then AC.

You can stream the first track on his myspace page:

Real Panda Bear page... (http://www.myspace.com/rippityrippity)

Not the BEST song on the CD, but gives you a good idea what it sounds like (happy indie pop)

[fanmail]

[ QUOTE ]

4.) Cold War Kids - We Used to Vacation


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm really pretty awful about listening to new radio, but I [censored] love the Cold War Kids song Hang Me Up To Dry. Don't know if you've heard it, but its great.

Also, pretty much every album that Ween, Modest Mouse, or My Morning Jacket have made is outstanding.

[Emmitt2222]

New Modest Mouse is definitely solid. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid. Favorite tracks are Dashboard, Florida and Spitting Venom at the moment.

LCD Soundsystem is really rad and I have been waiting for it for a long time. I can't quite see the brilliance of it that makes it score so high on Metacritic yet, but I am still really enjoying it and hope that I can let it sink in more. North American Scum and Someone Great are fabulous tracks.

Hissing Fauna is actually probably growing to be my favorite album of the year thus far although it started out far from it. His voice isn't my favorite, but its a grower and the music and lyrics are for the most part fantastic.

[TheFaucet]

I'm not into the current indie rock scene at all, I think it sucks for the most part. They're all about image nowadays and very few of the bands have any actual substance. I'm pretty heavy into the hardcore from the nineties though. Sunny Day Real Estate, Hot Water Music, Quicksand, Rival Schools, Fugazi, those were the days man. If you don't listen to Fugazi then you don't really know [censored] about indie rock, enough said.

Sunny Day Real Estate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDSsh7Ocv8o

Rival Schools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cQuVDjyf1o

Hot Water Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkm2BpDsrE

Quicksand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwBK8FUH9sM

Fugazi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGJFWirQ3ks

[TheFaucet]

[ QUOTE ]
cobrakai, check out this will destroy you. They sound a lot like explosions in the sky, and their album was probably one of the best of 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXmWUAXMYQ

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah these guys are great, they don't put on much of a show though obviously

[battschr]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Whenever a music thread comes up there is almost never mention of any of the many British bands who have emerged over the past few years. The British music scene really has expoded recently, lead by the likes of Coldplay, Muse, Bloc Party etc, but there are a lot of great bands who have yet to make the move stateside, or are just starting to, who I'm sure you guys would like.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9678/costellomusiccov278ks6.jpg
The Fratellis are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland who broke into the UK scene in '06. Their debut album Costello Music charted at number 2 and received critical acclaim as one of the best albums of the year. Their music is upbeat and pretty similar to the American indie stuff that gets mentioned here a lot. They just released their first American EP, which is available on iTunes and in stores, and are releasing their album in the US on March 13th. This is one of my favourite records of last year.

Fratellis MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/littlebabyfratelli)

YouTube videos of their singles:
Henrietta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I18JgJ0ubE)
Chelsea Dagger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMIOHXvKZSM)
Whistle For The Choir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5fpsln6cUg)
These are definitely their best tracks, Chelsea Dagger probably being my favourite.

Hype Machine - Fratellis (http://hype.non-standard.net/artist/the+fratellis)

[/ QUOTE ]

wow. this album is awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Spellmen]

[ QUOTE ]


Final Fantasy (aka Owen Pallet) is starting to gain some more press as the string arranger for Arcade Fire and the Hidden Cameras and is currently opening for Bloc Party. Lots of violin, strings, good melodies and strong narrative lyrics. His live show is incredible. Only him and a violin and a loop pedal and layers the whole track as he goes. Very impressive musician. Final Fantasy (http://www.myspace.com/owenpalletmusic)



[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds alot like Andrew Byrd, if you haven't heard him check it out, I wrote a review earlier in the thread

[Jigsaws]

I think I'm in love.

http://dronkenschip.nl/images/2._anna_ternheim.jpg

Anna Ternheim - Girl Laying Down (http://youtube.com/watch?v=zG7HPVmSlD8)
Anna Ternheim - Today Is A Good Day (http://youtube.com/watch?v=MFjAq2k5Ksg)

[xorbie]

She sounds excellent, thanks.

[nath]

Here's what I learned this last month...

-the new LCD Soundsystem disc is really good.
-the new Ted Leo disc is also quite good.
-Of Montreal kicked ass live, again.
-Saw Jana Hunter last night on a friend's recommendation. She has an incredible voice. Very Grace Slick. Unfortunately, I missed her solo set (she opened for her band, which I think was called Jacula, and which was not good. Their efforts consisted mostly of trying to drown out her voice with noise).

Ummmm....I feel like I've gotten more than that recently, but I can't remember what else. I'll think about it.

[Claunchy]

Explosions in the Sky and the Paper Chase are playing in Dallas tommorow; tickets are sold out and I can't find any through brokers on the internet.

WTF kinda world are we living in where someone with money to burn can't get tickets to an indie show? Should I just go, and see if people are scalping? This is like an hour drive, so I'd be pissed if I went out there for nothing.

I am bummed.

[SL__72]

New Music Recommendation:

Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ec/BotT-Proper.jpg

This is the third album by Kings Of Leon. The band is made up of three brothers and their cousin. They have a very unique sound that I would describe as upbeat, indie/jam rock with a bit of a southern twist. Their first two albums (which are also both awesome imo) received moderate critical acclaim scoring 79 and 73, respectively, on metacritic.com. So far this one is doing even better sitting at 82/100 (#9 overall so far this year).

I know Pitchfork gave their first two albums pretty bad scores, but I think they really missed the mark both times (which seems pretty common for them, even if they rarely make the opposite mistake).

From what I've seen (on TV sadly) these guys also put on a really good live show.

You can check out the first single "On Call" on their
myspace page. (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=855 4512) "On Call" is a lot slower then most of their music though, so to get a better idea of what they sound like you might check out some of the older songs on their myspace page like "The Bucket" or "Four Kicks."

This is really fun music... they have had a number of songs used on Entourage!

[theblackkeys]

The Black Keys.

If you like hard, dirty, bluesy, freakout, riff-heavy rock n roll, you'll like them. The band is a two-piece, ala the White Stripes. Dan Auerbach's (guitar, vocals) fingerstyle guitar playing lends itself well to filling the bass parts simultaneously with melody. It gives the music a bit of a haunting, droning sound, borrowed from fellow label mates and mississippi hill country bluesmen Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside. The difference is Pat Carney's frantic, loud drumming and Dan's great voice.

I'll provide live clips because this is where the band really shines.
Stack Shot Billy (live on letterman) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoG3TACGXZo)
Set You Free (live in austin) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHeF2lFO3IQ)
Everywhere I Go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6Nx1HOL8o)
Heavy Soul (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQYQrN3QQw)

Here's some music videos:
Your Touch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKXlgISd3iA)
10 A.M. Automatic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-CukK3eYt0)

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

I might not call the Kings of Leon's sound unique, but I do like the new album. Pitchfork didn't give it such a good review, either.

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
I might not call the Kings of Leon's sound unique, but I do like the new album. Pitchfork didn't give it such a good review, either.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah Pitchfork really doesn't like them. Their reviews are always full of backhanded compliments...

[effang]

to people who use metacrtici, is metacritic advice/rankings typically sufficient or to be listened to?

thanks

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

I just looked and it seems pretty good. The fact that an avg. of all scores puts Eluvium's Copia a record in 5th best of 2007 makes me like it even more since that's a record I love and nobody's talking about it. Sound of Silver and Person Pitch are both supposed to be really good too (although I don't get Sound of Silver and Person Pitch I haven't listened to yet). Neon Bible is good too, as well. So out of their top 5, yeah, I would say the albums I've heard of should at least be listened to. (Everything below that is pretty good as well...)

[effang]

i just spent the night trying to get all of these songs, and i must say...maybe i'm too "mainstream" indy to enjoy some of these artists/albumns.

i was able to obtain

the fratellis - costello music
panda bear - person pitch
LCD soundsystem- sound of silver
arcade fire - neon bible

on my first run through, nothing seems to be really popping up at me.

what i really like is
the postal service
death cab for cutie
rooney
the killers
the decemberists (some)

am i too "mainstream" indy to enjoy these "gems" you guys have listed? and if so, any more the killers/rooney type recommendations?

thanks

[private joker]

[ QUOTE ]


i was able to obtain

....

LCD soundsystem- sound of silver
...

on my first run through, nothing seems to be really popping up at me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing this year has popped out at me MORE than "North American Scum" off that LCD album. I think it's the song of the year and it'll be tough for any band, until R.E.M. and Radiohead release their new records, to top it.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

tix to the Modest Mouse show at The Orpheum in Boston sold out in about 30 minutes.. I bought some on craiglist for $15 over face, not bad.

anybody seen them? I'm listening to "Baron Von [censored] Rides Again" and it sounds great, psyched for the show.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


i was able to obtain

....

LCD soundsystem- sound of silver
...

on my first run through, nothing seems to be really popping up at me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing this year has popped out at me MORE than "North American Scum" off that LCD album. I think it's the song of the year and it'll be tough for any band, until R.E.M. and Radiohead release their new records, to top it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see what everyone else sees in that song. It's good and all and I like the energy, but for I like "Someone Great" better.

I think "The Past is a Grotesque Animal" by Of Montreal has a "song of the year" quality to it.

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
to people who use metacrtici, is metacritic advice/rankings typically sufficient or to be listened to?

thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

I really like that site, not just for music ratings but for other things too. Their "top" list generally have a very wide variety of genres though...

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


i was able to obtain

....

LCD soundsystem- sound of silver
...

on my first run through, nothing seems to be really popping up at me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing this year has popped out at me MORE than "North American Scum" off that LCD album. I think it's the song of the year and it'll be tough for any band, until R.E.M. and Radiohead release their new records, to top it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Damn, I wrote a reply to this on the "new" forum. Must have gotten lost.

I totally agree that "North American Scum" and Sound of Silver are clear song / album of the year so far, but I don't know why you have such high expectations for R.E.M. (and I love them)-- they haven't been good since they were Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe.

[Senor Cardgage]

This Panda Bear album is AMAZING. I love Animal Collective and this might be even better than Feels or Sung Tongs. Different, but beautiful. And the Brian Wilson comparisons I've heard are definitely apt.

Good Girl/Carrots might be my favorite song so far this year. Haven't heard the LCD Soundsystem record yet, though.

[Hoopster81]

I saw Aracde Fire in concert last night and strongly recommend making an effort to see them if you have the chance

[Claunchy]

Anyone else jazzed for the Pitchfork Music Festival (http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/) this summer?

Personally, I'm making the trip to Chicago just to see Friday's lineup. Saturday and Sunday are just a cool bonus.

[Fedfan691]

I'm psyched new england finally gets a festival with some good bands. Only bands that have been announced so far for the Download Festival at the tweeter center are Wolf Parade, Modest Mouse, The Shins, and (how'd they get in here?) Incubus. Line up will be announced march 29th, crossing my fingers for some more good bands.

Link to site:
http://www.downloadfestival.com/

[Clayton]

ROYKSOPP!!

tracks: remind me, only this moment, poor leno, follow my ruin, 49 percent, curves

my fav band of year... norwegian electro-pop



second fav indie'ish band:

zero 7

btw, dunno if electric downtempoish music is classified as "indie" but likely you guys have not heard of these bands ever.

royksopp is best known in america for part of their single "remind me" being played during the geico commercial with the cavemane walking on the walkway thingy at the airport.

[JMP300z]

Some great recommendations...I especially enjoyed THe Fratellis and Songs:Ohia.

Ill add Chad VanGaalen.
Facts: hes canadian
he makes all his own instruments
he is really good live...I saw him open for band of horses. Played kinda one man band w/ some rigged instruments.
I read that the animations for his video he works on 8-10 hrs a day for a full month. Not sure of the truth to this.

heres his myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/chadvangaalen

-JP

[tshort]

I also saw Chad open for Band of Horses and agree he was really good live.

[MEbenhoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone else jazzed for the Pitchfork Music Festival (http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/) this summer?

Personally, I'm making the trip to Chicago just to see Friday's lineup. Saturday and Sunday are just a cool bonus.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am considering taking my gf down for Sunday. I thought Friday and Saturday's lineups looked like crap actually.

[Claunchy]

Daydream Nation and Spiderland are two of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Plus I'd pretty much written off ever being able to see Slint, since I was like 10 when they broke up. Being able to see those albums performed in their entireties is an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The rest of the lineup, while very cool, are all bands I could probably see somewhere that isn't 1000 miles from my home.

[1957 Chevy]

I don't ever listen to the radio, but from what I hear, this band is starting to get some play (so I'm not sure if you'd consider them "indie" enough anymore): Peter, Bjorn, and John

I started listening to them a couple years ago and think they're great.

You might have missed the "Brian Jonestown Massacre" buzz in the late 90's, so check them out if you haven't already.

If you like experimental, "concept" albums, check out 'Can's' Tago Mago album.

The Rifles, The Fiery Furnaces, Laura Veirs, Phoenix, Whitest Boy Alive, Grandaddy, Holger Czukay

Great suggestions in here already. Thanks for the tips.

[SL__72]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone else jazzed for the Pitchfork Music Festival (http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/) this summer?

Personally, I'm making the trip to Chicago just to see Friday's lineup. Saturday and Sunday are just a cool bonus.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am considering taking my gf down for Sunday. I thought Friday and Saturday's lineups looked like crap actually.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wanted to go but since I'm already going there for Lollapalooza I doubt it will happen.

Also, kind of surprised this one hasn't been mentioned because it has gotten really good etc, but Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position is awesome. That and Blonde Redhead - 23 have been dominating my playlist for the last week or two.

[Jack of Arcades]

the new dinosaur jr rocks my socks

[Wilco23]

[ QUOTE ]
the new dinosaur jr rocks my socks

[/ QUOTE ]

right on. i've also been digging tapes n tapes (not as techno as the name suggests), dolorean (alt country), pela, the national (great indie) and the format (indie pop). definitely worth checking out.

[private joker]

I'm really digging the debut album from Mika, he's a Lebanese-American guy from London who sings like Freddie Mercury.

His singles "Grace Kelly" and "Love Today" are especially awesome, and I recommend him to people like Nath who are fans of Scissor Sisters.

[mmbt0ne]

I'm very much enjoying the latest Fountains of Wayne offering Traffic and Weather.

[SL__72]

Just got home from seeing the Rapture. It was a great show. I liked Pieces of the People We Love, but they sounded even better live, which I didn't expect.

[Wilco23]

Anyone interested in the new Wilco that comes out next week? Obviously I'm a big fan. I've downloaded most of it already, and it sounds sort of 70's am radio.

[bmxicle]

This may already be in here, but just in case i have to tell you about this awesomeness
Rogue wave- descend like vultures

I've had this album for a long time, but i never listened to it much until today. Very awesome.

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone interested in the new Wilco that comes out next week? Obviously I'm a big fan. I've downloaded most of it already, and it sounds sort of 70's am radio.

[/ QUOTE ]
Haven't heard any of it yet because I'm not cool enough to get stuff early, but I have it preordered, so I should get it next Tuesday.

What do you mean by "70s AM radio?" Is it really lo-fi or something?

[Wilco23]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone interested in the new Wilco that comes out next week? Obviously I'm a big fan. I've downloaded most of it already, and it sounds sort of 70's am radio.

[/ QUOTE ]
Haven't heard any of it yet because I'm not cool enough to get stuff early, but I have it preordered, so I should get it next Tuesday.

What do you mean by "70s AM radio?" Is it really lo-fi or something?

[/ QUOTE ]

70's AM radio as in lilting tunes in the vein of Neil Young crossed with some Poco, leaning back toward the alt country stylings in a more subtle way. The album has been streaming at wilcoworld.net and may still be. Interestingly, this album appears to be the one with the vocals most out in front. Less electronics.

[ QUOTE ]
Well, since yves brought up shoegaze, and I think this sorta qualifies (if it doesn't, oh well, it's still one of the best albums EVAR):

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/552/b0000036x301lzzzzzzzrn6.jpg

I have to admit that I like, but don't love, Yo La Tengo. Some of their albums tend to meander on forever with no direction.

This album is awesome though because it mixes in the meandering with some catchy pop hooks, which makes it (IMHO) infinitely more listenable/accessible than some of their other albums.

I'd recommend this (http://hype.non-standard.net/search/"return%20to%20hot%20chicken"/1/) track to those of you who haven't ever heard this. It's the first song on the album, and is pretty indicative of the album's sound.

OMG WTF WON'T THIS LINK WORK

[/ QUOTE ]

Unlike probably most of their fans it was those light sweet melodic pop songs that really made me love Yo La Tengo.
Heck "Summer Sun" which is probably a lot of people's LEAST favorite album of their's, just happens to be my favorite.

Then when I saw them live last year and they were just throwing out one guitar epic out there after another and it DID go on forever and it was LOUD (louder than Mogwai even who I had seen the week before) but it was also pretty amazing. It really opened my ears up towards their whole repertoire.
I pretty much love everything now and more than ever appreciate the great versatility from this band.
I strongly recommend anyone who gets the chance to see them live.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


i was able to obtain

....

LCD soundsystem- sound of silver
...

on my first run through, nothing seems to be really popping up at me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing this year has popped out at me MORE than "North American Scum" off that LCD album. I think it's the song of the year and it'll be tough for any band, until R.E.M. and Radiohead release their new records, to top it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see what everyone else sees in that song. It's good and all and I like the energy, but for I like "Someone Great" better.

I think "The Past is a Grotesque Animal" by Of Montreal has a "song of the year" quality to it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't even listened to much new stuff this year, I'm looking very much forward from new releases from probably my two favorite bands of all time, British Sea Power and Radiohead.
I'm obviously biased since I'm a huge fan but I caught Radiohead twice on their tour, have listened many times since as well, and I think pretty much all of their new songs are great.

On an unrelated note my single of the year so far would be this: Bloc Party - The Prayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq2FC3yJsrQ)

I just can't enough of that song for some reason.

[landwalker]

figured this would be a good time to start posting.

the three cd's over the last two years or so i that i feel are totally underrated are :

Elephant Eyelash by Why? One of the most unique cd's ive heard in a while. it's kinda "poppy", but... mostly not.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9RKZefc3P4E

Detrola by His Name is Alive super catchy and jazz like
some good songs on http://myspace.com/hisnameisalive but Detrola is a must listen

Oh you're so silent jens by Jens Lekman
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=505 77087

also, if you like godspeed you black emporer, explosions in the sky etc., you should check out Isis, especially Panopticon. and whoever mentioned my favorite is 100% correct

[ozyman]

I am really into Mew at the moment. Description from Wikipedia:
"Whilst their music may be classified as Indie and on occasion prog rock, they sometimes humorously refer to it themselves as "pretentious art rock", or in guitarist Bo's words, "the world's only indie stadium band"."
They had a minor hit with Zoo Keepers Boy last last year. They finally released their 2003 album Frengers in the US earlier this year and its better than And The Glass Handed Kites album.

If you check out one song from them make it: Mew - Comforting Sounds (Live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH7ZZq1rzq4)

[daman123]

I love Mew. Zookeepers Boy is a great track, but every song on that album seems like it could be a single. "Seething Rain Weeps For You" is my favorite track on that record. It seems that every time I'm craving a certain Mew song, I end up listening to the entire album.

[Heidi Klum]

The latest Feist album is really good. Good mix of slow stuff with some more upbeat, rollicking stuff.

Pitchfork gave Wilco's new album the thumbs-down, but I think it's very good. Nothing groundbreaking like YHF, but an easy listen and a lot of fun at times - some nice solos. Good driving music.

[Claunchy]

[ QUOTE ]

Pitchfork gave Wilco's new album the thumbs-down, but I think it's very good. Nothing groundbreaking like YHF, but an easy listen and a lot of fun at times - some nice solos. Good driving music.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree with all of this. It's never gonna be my favorite Wilco album, but it's definitely good. Maybe they just set the bar so high with YHF that it's hard for them to get good reviews, I dunno.

[Wilco23]

True dat. Not groundbreaking, but still worth the purchase. Lyrically, I dig where Wilco has been headed, and this one is no exception. It won't get the heavy rotation that YHF, AGIG or ST did, but you can't always hit grand slams.

[nath]

I gotta give that new Wilco album another try, because like the opening five seconds of it kinda turned me off. Weird as that sounds, I just didn't really like that intro chord, and Wilco is one of my personal favorite bands of all time.

Bjork's Volta is really good (and by the way, she puts on a spectacular live show). Nothing else I can think of that's new offhand (although you guys missed out on some killer performances at Coachella).

[landwalker]

I can see Battles getting big this year. http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU is my favorite single so far this year.

[daman123]

[ QUOTE ]
I can see Battles getting big this year.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, a 9.1 from p4k will usually do that. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Jigsaws]

Yes sir, Battles is awesome. Saw them Monday night and they absolutely rocked the place. The room was filled to the brim as well. 300 people is really quite ridiculous for a band whose album wasn't even out yet, and has only had some play online.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

Battles is cool. I feel like Ratatat is a must listen if you like Battles but I think most people who like Battles have already heard of Ratatat (or at least that's the way it went for me). If you like this kind of experimental-rock type stuff, you guys should check out Holy F*ck (obviously not censored). I saw them open for Wolf Parade and they totally rocked it even though their [censored] was totally weird. They have a new EP out (Holy F*ck EP) and the song Lovely Allen on it is the most jublient (best word I can think to describe it) song I've heard all year Live Version of Lovely Allen (sound quality is sub-par but you can still get the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF5pflYbZGM). Their S/T album came out in 2005 and it was pretty cool, too. Tone Bank Jungle is definitely a song worth checking out.

[ozyman]

The National's new album Boxer came out this week. I love it, there is less rock than Alligator but still very moody and evocative. Pitchfork gave it a 8.6.

The National single Mistaken For Strangers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhA9ARZ6pjk)

[Spellmen]

Voxtrot recently came out with a S/T album that is really good. It was in the OOT "Best so far of 2007", but I didn't see it mentioned here, so PSA for those who avoid OOT. Standout singles in my mind are Firecrack, the best by far IMO, and Steven. You can check it out at their myspace here (http://www.myspace.com/voxtrot)

The Klaxons and Dr. Dog are two other bands worth checking out. I'll try to write a better review on them when I get back from work

[cianosheehan]

Saw these guys on Wednesday http://www.myspace.com/fightlikeapesmusic. Put on a great show. If you dont want a song stuck in your head for days, dont listen to 'lend me your face' on their myspace /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[MEbenhoe]

The first song off of The New Pornographers new album "Challengers" is now up on their myspace. It is called "My Rights Versus Yours".

If this is indicative of the rest of the album, this is a very interesting direction they took.

http://www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers

[Fedfan691]

[ QUOTE ]
Voxtrot recently came out with a S/T album that is really good. It was in the OOT "Best so far of 2007", but I didn't see it mentioned here, so PSA for those who avoid OOT. Standout singles in my mind are Firecrack, the best by far IMO, and Steven. You can check it out at their myspace here (http://www.myspace.com/voxtrot)

The Klaxons and Dr. Dog are two other bands worth checking out. I'll try to write a better review on them when I get back from work

[/ QUOTE ]

I was actually pretty disappointed with voxtrot's album, which sucked because I was really looking forward to it based on the fact that they've put out a bunch of really great EP's. There just really aren't that many great songs besides firecracker and steven, especially compared to their previously released material. I'm seeing them in june in a month, hopefully they'll be playing alot of their EP stuff in addition to the better songs from their LP.

[pryor15]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Pitchfork gave Wilco's new album the thumbs-down, but I think it's very good. Nothing groundbreaking like YHF, but an easy listen and a lot of fun at times - some nice solos. Good driving music.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree with all of this. It's never gonna be my favorite Wilco album, but it's definitely good. Maybe they just set the bar so high with YHF that it's hard for them to get good reviews, I dunno.

[/ QUOTE ]

i really like it. it's not the sort of stunning tour-de-force you expect, but it's a great record for chilling in the backyard on a lazy Saturday

[Jack of Arcades]

Which was exactly what Wilco was trying to do. Obviously, they succeeded fantastically, but it makes you wonder why they set their sights so low.

[private joker]

[ QUOTE ]
The first song off of The New Pornographers new album "Challengers" is now up on their myspace. It is called "My Rights Versus Yours".

If this is indicative of the rest of the album, this is a very interesting direction they took.

http://www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers

[/ QUOTE ]

I like it. Pretty restrained -- almost sounds like New Pornos covering Belle & Sebastian, doesn't it?

[Wilco23]

[ QUOTE ]
Which was exactly what Wilco was trying to do. Obviously, they succeeded fantastically, but it makes you wonder why they set their sights so low.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to admit it - since Wilco is my favorite band - but I tend to agree with this assessment.

On another topic, I've gone back into my archives and rediscovered the Minutemen. Pretty amazing stuff. Very indie.

[turnipmonster]

I've been digging andrew bird (can't remember album name, has the song "fiery crash") a lot recently. also enjoying the national's "alligator" and the essex green. I think "sin city" might be my favorite pop song of the year.

[MEbenhoe]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The first song off of The New Pornographers new album "Challengers" is now up on their myspace. It is called "My Rights Versus Yours".

If this is indicative of the rest of the album, this is a very interesting direction they took.

http://www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers

[/ QUOTE ]

I like it. Pretty restrained -- almost sounds like New Pornos covering Belle & Sebastian, doesn't it?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not exactly excited by it. Restrained is not a word I would expect to be used to describe an NPs song.

I mean the song is decent, what worries me is if this is supposed to be like the standout song of the album. If its just a random song off of it and just happened to be one of the first songs completely finished then fine. I'll admit it is growing on me a little, but we'll see.

[Dale]

I've been rediscovering Soft Machine and some of the other "Canterbury" scene bands I first heard in the late '70s doing college radio.

Soft Machine were contemporaries of Pink Floyd and were in a similar psychedelic vein at first. The first lineup was a trio. Robert Wyatt, who later made my favorite version of Peter Gabriel's "Biko," was singing and playing drums. Kevin Ayers played bass, guitar, and sang, and Mike Ratledge played keyboards. Then Hugh Hopper on bass replaced Ayers, saxophonist Elton Dean joined, and they morphed into an electric improv fusion band, more like Miles Davis or Sun Ra, a path they continued after Wyatt left. The best known album has always been _Third_, just reissued with a bonus live disc. There's lots of new material, too. _Middle Earth Masters_ has live performances of the first psychedelic lineup. Grides_, is a CD and DVD of the quartet lineup. There are also numerous BBC sessions that cover a wide range, and all of the major label records are coming out with bonus material.

[pryor15]

[ QUOTE ]
Which was exactly what Wilco was trying to do. Obviously, they succeeded fantastically, but it makes you wonder why they set their sights so low.

[/ QUOTE ]

i think it has a lot to do with Tweedy getting out of rehab. i always thought of "a ghost is born" as an album made by someone battling an addiction (especially the song "Less Than You Think") and if you play that and "Sky Blue Sky" back-to-back, there's a lot of peace and tranquility and whatnot

hell, even the title: Sky Blue Sky, the clouds have parted, the storm is over, all that jazz.